PolyHIPEs: Recent advances in emulsion-templated porous polymers

Research output: Contribution to journalReview articlepeer-review

Abstract

Porous polymers with well-defined porosities and high specific surface areas in the form of monoliths, films, and beads are being used in a wide range of applications (reaction supports, separation membranes, tissue engineering scaffolds, controlled release matrices, responsive and smart materials) and are being used as templates for porous ceramics and porous carbons. The surge in the research and development of porous polymer systems is a rather recent phenomenon. PolyHIPEs are porous emulsion-templated polymers synthesized within high internal phase emulsions (HIPEs). HIPEs are highly viscous, paste-like emulsions in which the major, "internal" phase, usually defined as constituting more than 74% of the volume, is dispersed within the continuous, minor, "external" phase. This review focuses upon the recent advances in polyHIPEs involving innovations in polymer chemistry, macromolecular structure, multiphase architecture, surface functionalization, and nanoparticle stabilization. The effects of these innovations upon the natures of the resulting polyHIPE-based materials (including bicontinuous polymers, nanocomposites, hybrids, porous ceramics, and porous carbons) and upon the applications involving polyHIPEs are discussed. The advances in polyHIPEs described in this review are now being used to generate new families of porous materials with novel porous architectures and unique properties.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)199-234
Number of pages36
JournalProgress in Polymer Science
Volume39
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - Jan 2014

Keywords

  • Emulsion stabilization
  • Emulsion templating
  • High internal phase emulsions
  • PolyHIPEs
  • Polymer chemistry
  • Porous polymers

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • Ceramics and Composites
  • Surfaces and Interfaces
  • Polymers and Plastics
  • Organic Chemistry
  • Materials Chemistry

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