Micropatterned thin film honeycomb materials from regiospecifically modified cellulose

Thin film honeycomb materials were prepared from regioselectively modified celluloses. The method uses water condensation at the surface of a cellulosic solution as an ordered template to form honeycomb structures. Pore size and distribution is controlled by several factors, one of which is the hydrophilicity of the cellulosic used. The amphiphilic nature of the celluloses was modified with varying lengths of ethylene glycol side chains using 2,6-thexyldimethylsilyl cellulose. It was found that the side chains do affect the honeycomb formation, with longer ethylene glycol chains leading to increased pore uniformity but having little influence on the pore size.