Three-dimensional ordered porous polymeric materials are being extensively studied for their unique properties and applications in photonics, catalysis, tissue engineering, and membrane technology. Many novel and innovative techniques have been developed to synthesize these materials, however, these techniques are limited in precisely controlling the pore sizes and pore size distribution.¹ Our work attempts to address this issue by utilizing the colloidal templating method in a predefined geometry of our choice that expands the potential applications from nano- to the micro-scale.

Polymeric colloidal suspensions of particles with given diameters are assembled in succession inside of a polymeric cylindrical microcapillary. Once the completion of the colloidal assembly has been observed, a liquid pre-polymer is allowed to infiltrate and fill the interstitial spaces formed by the colloidal assembly. The liquid pre-polymer is subsequently cured under UV light. The polymerized colloid/polymer matrix is treated with organic solvents resulting in polymeric porous materials.

We have assembled polymeric colloids with diameters ranging from 100 nm to 20 mm inside capillaries with diameters ranging from 50 mm to 105 mm. The effect of the polymeric colloidal material, particle and capillary size, and pre-polymer material on the order and quality of the colloidal assemblies and subsequently obtained porous materials are currently under investigation and will be presented here.

1. Li, J.; Zhang, Y., Porous polymer films with size-tunable surface pores. Chemistry of Materials 2007, 19, (10), 2581-2584.