Unsoluble ordered polymeric pattern by breath figure approach

Abstract

Herein, the ability of an alternated polyfluorene copolymer (PFOTHP) bearing tetrahydropyranyl groups on its lateral chains to turn into a solvent resistant material after a thermal treatment is exploited for the fabrication of versatile micropatterned thin films. Nanoporous films are formed by casting PFOTHP from a volatile solvent solution in the presence of humidity. The use of polydimethylsiloxane as a template of the hexagonal pattern enables the retention of structure during the thermal annealing which triggers the formation of unsoluble highly ordered honeycomb structured films. This prevents any restriction in the use of polymeric porous films together with organic solvents. Solutions of a second polymer can be drop on top of these films without modifying their porous surface, so that bicomponent arrays of two different photoluminescent polymers are achievable. The straightforwardness of this approach suggests interesting perspectives in the field of micro and nano-organized materials and offers valuable opportunities of application not only in optoelectronic but also in bioanalysis devices.