Dispersion of Al2O3nanoparticles stabilized with mussel-inspired amphiphilic copolymers in organic solvents and formation of hierarchical porous films by the breath figure technique

Abstract

Hierarchical porous inorganic materials have attracted much attention, due to their large surface area and fast substance diffusion. We have prepared hierarchical porous films composed of Al₂O₃ nanoparticles (NPs) using the breath figure technique. The Al₂O₃ NPs were stabilized using an amphiphilic copolymer that contained catechol moieties. Porous films of polymer-stabilized Al₂O₃ NPs were prepared using water droplets as templates. The films were sintered to produce hierarchical porous Al₂O₃ films that were thermally and chemically stable.