Transient laser heating induced hierarchical porous structures from block copolymer–directed self-assembly

Abstract

Laser patterning polymer membranes Porous materials are useful for membranes, filters, energy conversion, and catalysis. Their utility often depends on the ability to finely control both the pore sizes and their connectivity. Tan et al. prepared porous thin films of block copolymers mixed with phenol-formaldehyde resins (resols) on silicon substrates using a simple laser process. On exposure to ultraviolet light, rapid heating of the substrate causes polymerization of the resols and decomposition of the block copolymer. This method allows direct patterning of the films on a local scale, with tunable pore sizes and size distributions. Science , this issue p. 54