The behaviour of honeycomb film formation from star polymers with various fluorine content

Abstract

A series of poly((1H,1H-pentafluoropropyl acrylate)-ran-(methyl methacrylate)) (poly(PFPA-ran-MMA)) star polymers with varying fluorine content were prepared via the core-first approach using atom-transfer radical polymerisation (ATRP). Subsequently, the star polymers were used to prepare honeycomb films on both planar and non-planar surfaces via the 'Breath Figures' technique using a static casting method. The fluorine content of the star polymers was observed to influence the morphology of the honeycomb structures and the formation of non-cracking honeycomb films on non-planar surfaces. Moreover, the average pore diameter of the honeycomb films was found to decrease with increasing fluorin..