Direct-writing microporous polymer architectures – print, capture and release

Abstract

In the nature-inspired breath figure method, rafts of condensed water droplets self-organise and imprint into a permanent microporous polymer structure. This could have exciting applications in drug delivery, tissue engineering and sensors but it is extremely difficult to control or functionalise the final structure. Here, we show direct-writing of droplets onto fluid surfaces by inkjet printing as a breakthrough to dial-in a required pattern, structure and function into the polymer film.