High internal phase emulsions (HIPEs) have a very high volume fraction of internal phase ; by polymerizing the continuous phase, a solid polymer with large pores in place of the droplets of internal phase and a series of interconnecting pores is prepared.  Relatively large pore sizes yield material with low surface area. For enlarging the surface area, a hypercrosslinking reaction is possible.  Additional linkages are created resulting in smaller pores and higher surface area. A Friedel-Crafts reaction between chloromethyl groups in the polymer matrix can be utilized for hypercrosslinking approach. The reaction proceeds via Friedel-Craft catalysis and  number of mesopores are created which has a dramatic effect on the surface area. In the case of 2 % crosslinked VBC polyHIPE hypercrosslinked monolith was prepared with an increase of surface area from 5.7 to 990 m2/g. A substantial amount of chloromethylated groups were left enabling further functionalisation of the polymer.

Creating hierarchical porosity within polyHIPEs: Hypercrosslinking approach

245th National Meeting (2013)

The official archive and repository for all ACS Meetings & Expositions abstracts and select posters or presentations.