title: Use of a self-assembling organogel as a reverse template in the preparation of imprinted porous polymer films.
abstract: The concept of reverse templating of an organogel to form imprinted porous divinylbenzene polymer films with submicrometer channels is demonstrated. The organogel comprising a 1:1 molar ratio of two organogelators, that is, bis(2-ethylhexyl) sodium sulfosuccinate and 4-chlorophenol, was formed in divinylbenzene. The gel was cast as a thin film before UV polymerization of the solvent, and the organogelators were later removed by simple washing with water and isooctane. The integrity of the fiber bundles of the organogel was preserved during polymerization, and an exact hollow replica was obtained after the organogelators were leached away. It is easily possible to imprint gel fiber bundle structures into polymeric films through this technique. The gel can also be formed on macroporous substrates to yield supported thin porous polymeric films. With the incorporation of functional nanoparticles in AOT inverse micelles and hence the organogel, nanoparticle-containing porous polymer films exhibiting luminescence or magnetic properties are envisioned.
authors.affiliation: Departments of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering and Chemistry and Coordinated Instrumentation Facility, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA 70118, USA.
authors.forename: Grace
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Tan
authors.forename: Mohit
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Singh
authors.forename: Jibao
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: He
authors.forename: Vijay T
authors.initials: VT
authors.lastname: John
authors.forename: Gary L
authors.initials: GL
authors.lastname: McPherson
mesh_terms: D002733:Chlorophenols / Q000737:chemistry; D005782:Gels / Q000138:chemical synthesis*; D008163:Luminescent Measurements; D018625:Microscopy, Atomic Force; D046529:Microscopy, Electron, Transmission; D049329:Nanostructures / Q000737:chemistry; D009795:Octanes / Q000737:chemistry; D011145:Polyvinyls / Q000138:chemical synthesis*; D016062:Porosity; D020058:Styrene / Q000737:chemistry*; D013386:Succinates / Q000737:chemistry; D013501:Surface-Active Agents / Q000737:chemistry*; D014867:Water / Q000737:chemistry; D014961:X-Ray Diffraction
chemical_list: D002733:Chlorophenols; D005782:Gels; D009795:Octanes; D011145:Polyvinyls; D013386:Succinates; D013501:Surface-Active Agents; D014867:Water; C029107:4-chlorophenol; D020058:Styrene; C045798:2,2,4-trimethylpentane