3D Lattice Structure Control of Ordered Macroporous Material by Self-Assembly of Liquid Droplets

Macromol Rapid Commun. 2017 Jan;38(1). doi: 10.1002/marc.201600502. Epub 2016 Oct 24.

Abstract

Microfluidic devices, which can continuously fabricate single emulsion with monodispersed droplets having a pore diameter of more than 100 μm in large numbers, can be applied to manufacture ordered macroporous films. 3D ordered macroporous films with a diameter of more than 100 μm can be fabricated using ordered arrays of the monodispersed droplets as templates of the macropores, which are self-assembled in the space between two parallel flat glass plates. As the gap between the glass plates increases, the number of the layer increases. Furthermore, in the case with two or more layers, the lattice structure of the macroporous films also changes due to the confinement effects.

Keywords: confinement effects; droplets array; microfluidic devices; porous films.

MeSH terms

  • Emulsions / chemistry
  • Lab-On-A-Chip Devices*
  • Molecular Structure
  • Oils / chemistry*
  • Particle Size
  • Porosity
  • Surface Properties
  • Water / chemistry

Substances

  • Emulsions
  • Oils
  • Water