| abstract |
A polymer 10 is produced in an exciting medium, preferably by pulsed plasma deposition 11. An emulsion is formed by containing the polymer 10 with a non-solvent. The nonsolvent constitutes the dispersed phase in a continuous polymer phase. At least some of the non-solvent is removed, to leave pores 12 within the polymer 10. Preferably, the polymer is impregnated with an emulsion stabilising agent, especially an amphiphilic, cresyl violet perchlorate or is its own stabilising agent. Preferably, the porous polymer 10, formed using a hot, aqueous non-solvent, is functionalized by a hydrophobic moiety that is capable of influencing the pore size, by reversibly swelling when exposed to water. The pores of the polyvinyl benzyl chloride may be modified by atom transfer radical polymerisation (ATRP) reaction with glycidyl methacrylate and reactive dye. The porous polymer may be used for gas storage, fuel cells, catalysis, sensors, filtration, chromatography, tissue engineering, micro-fluidic devices or bio-mineralisation. |