title: Three-dimensionally ordered porous membranes prepared via self-assembly and reverse micelle formation from well-defined amphiphilic block copolymers.
abstract: Block copolymers of poly(pentafluorostyrene) (PFS) and poly(tert-butyl acrylate) (PtBA), or PFS-b-PtBA copolymers, were synthesized via consecutive atom transfer radical polymerizations (ATRPs). Amphiphilic block copolymers of PFS and poly(acrylic acid) (PFS-b-PAAC copolymers) were prepared via hydrolysis of the corresponding PFS-b-PtBA copolymers. The chemical structure and composition of the PFS-b-PtBA and PFS-b-PAAC block copolymers were studied by nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy, themogravimetric analysis (TGA), and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The amphiphilic PFS-b-PAAC copolymers were cast into porous membranes by phase inversion in aqueous media. The surface and cross-sectional morphology of the PFS-b-PAAC membranes were studied by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Membranes with well-defined pores of sizes in the micrometer range were obtained as a result of inverse micelle formation. The pH of the aqueous media for phase inversion and the PAAC content in the PFS-b-PAAC copolymers could be used to adjust the pore size of the membranes.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering, National University of Singapore, Kent Ridge, Singapore 119260.
authors.forename: G D
authors.initials: GD
authors.lastname: Fu
authors.forename: E T
authors.initials: ET
authors.lastname: Kang
authors.forename: K G
authors.initials: KG
authors.lastname: Neoh
mesh_terms: D000180:Acrylic Resins / Q000138:chemical synthesis*; D001672:Biocompatible Materials / Q000138:chemical synthesis*; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D009682:Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy; D008567:Membranes, Artificial; D008823:Micelles; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D010316:Particle Size; D011137:Polystyrenes / Q000138:chemical synthesis*; D016062:Porosity; D013052:Spectrometry, X-Ray Emission
chemical_list: D000180:Acrylic Resins; D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D008567:Membranes, Artificial; D008823:Micelles; D011137:Polystyrenes; C006903:carbopol 940