Fabrication of Adsorption‐Type Hierarchical Functional Films by Using a Facile Swollen Based Breath Figure Method. Issue 20 (15th August 2022) - Qu, Ting
Abstract: The morphology transition from primary to hierarchical adsorption‐type microporous domains of amphiphilic block copolymer (BCP) honeycomb‐structured films is demonstrated by a facile swollen based breath figure (BF) method. The characteristic parameters of poly(4‐vinylpyridine)‐ block ‐polystyrene (P4VP‐ b ‐PS) hierarchical micro‐ and submicroporous films can be controlled by changing the length of segments or subsequent swelling conditions. A plausible mechanism is demonstrated in this research. A typical amphiphilic BCP with very low volume content of hydrophilic blocks ( f P4VP ≤ 0.050) can efficiently stabilize water droplets and inherently assist in the formation of morphology transition. This BCP film can be used for Cr(VI) removal from wastewater, which additionally has enormous potential application in the field of novel optical devices, soft lithography, size‐selective separation, etc. Abstract : A facile swollen‐based breath figure method is demonstrated to prepare an adsorption‐type hierarchical honeycomb‐structured film. A low volume fraction of hydrophilic segments ( f P4VP ≤ 0.050) endows it with a rapid structural reconstruction capability. Besides, an excellent adsorption ability for heavy metal Cr(VI) ions further makes it more attractive for advanced adsorbent materials.