Synthesis of a novel porous Polymer/Ceramic composite material by low-temperature atomic layer deposition

Highly porous poly(styrene-divinylbenzene) particles (similar to 85% porosity, 8- 10 cm(3)/g pore volume, 43.5 m(2)/g surface area, 70 kg/m(3) particle density, and similar to 600 mu m diameter) were synthesized by copolymerization of styrene and divinylbenzene. Conformal alumina films were grown on internal and external polymer particle surfaces at 33 degrees C by atomic layer deposition (ALD). Analytical characterization revealed that the pore filling mechanism was a uniform coating of the pore walls. ALD provides a controllable method for reinforcing porous polymeric structures while modifying surface properties. Such surface functionalization may promote cell adhesion and proliferation for tissue engineering applications.