A robust micro-porous 3D polymeric film has been constructed using a sacrificial template by Chinese scientists. This simple and cheap method has a variety of promising applications including biosensors, liquid chromatography and micro-reactors the team say.
The team led by Lei Li at Xiamen University and Zhi Ma at Shanghai Institute of Organic Chemistry demonstrated that commercially available triblock polymers can perfectly contour nonplanar substrates with hierarchical micro-structures, despite the sharp corners and shapes. This robust strategy is ascribed to the fluid-like property of the rubber matrix of the polymers. In the sequent vulcanization, the resultant 3D structures are effectively cross-linked and become self-supported with improved thermal stability and solvent resistance.
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