Ordered porous conjugated poly(p-phenylene)s films self-assembled through alcohol-controlled breath figure method.

Abstract Because of their wide applications, the polymer porous films with regular patterned structure have attracted more and more attention. Herein, the porous films created from the poly(p-phenylene)s/CHCl 3 solutions have been self-assembled in an alcohol-water mixed vapor atmosphere. The results show that the patterns of the films depend on the polymer concentration and the ratio of alcohols to water. The introduction of a small amount of alcohols can improve the regular pore patterns of the porous films. Using the mixed water/methanol droplets as soft templates, the ordered porous films can be obtained from a high-concentration polymer solution. The low-concentration polymer solution and a high ratio of alcohol to water lead to form large pores in the films. The alcohol-controlled breath figure method is a facile way to design and fabricate ordered porous films based on a conjugated polymer. Highlights • Ordered porous PPP films were self-assembled in alcohol/H 2 O mixed vapor atmospheres. • The patterns of the porous films depend on the polymer concentration and the ratio of alcohols to water. • The ratios of alcohol and H 2 O can adjust the sizes and regularity of pores. • The ordered BF arrays were obtained from CHCl 3 solution with 10 mg mL−1 in the mixed vapor atmospheres. • The alcohol-controlled BF method is facile way to fabricate ordered porous films. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]