Sequential deposition of patterned porous polymers using poly(dimethylsiloxane) masks

The deposition of porous polymer membranes was patterned using poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS) masks. The porous polymer was deposited by introducing the monomer and initiator sequentially to allow for the temperature, pressure, and duration of each step to be controlled independently. The porosity and thickness of the membranes was controlled by varying the substrate temperature during monomer deposition. The addition of a cross-linker during polymerization allowed for the fabrication of robust free-standing shaped hydrophilic membranes that are insoluble in aqueous solutions. Our ability to control the shape, thickness, porosity, and functionality of the porous membranes allows for the design of new surfaces for a variety of applications in sensors, filtration, and microfluidics. (C) 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.