Nanoporous Membrane Composed of Block Copolymers and Au Nanoparticles for Catalytic Reaction

Abstract

Non-solvent induced phase separation (NIPS) method has attracted many interests for fabrication of nanoporous block copolymer membranes with tunable pore size and cross-sectional morphologies. However, in most cases, asymmetric membranes are more dominated by irregular macropores in the bottom than nanopores in the top. Therefore this research is focus on symmetric membrane fabrication with fully nanoporous structure in the cross-section. Parameters such as doctor blade cast thickness, evaporation temperature and time were optimized. The obtained membranes have nanoporous structure where the main framework is built by PS block and coated by P2VP block on the surface. Since the P2VP block can be coordinated by HAuCl4 as a precursor, further citrate reduction led to formation of Au nanoparticles inside the membrane. The catalytic reactivity was perform by reduction of 4-NP.