Preparation of nanoporous poly(methyl silsesquioxanes) films using PS-b-P4VP as template

Nanoporous poly(methyl silsesquioxane) (PMSSQ) film was prepared through the templating of an amphiphilic block copolymer, poly(styrene-4-vinyl pyridine) (PS-b-P4VP). The experimental and theoretical studies suggest that the intermolecular hydrogen bonding is existed between the PMSSQ precursor and PS-b-P4VP. The miscible hybrid and the narrow thermal decomposition of the PS-b-P4VP lead to nanopores in the prepared films from the results of TGA, AFM, and TEM. The effects of the loading ratio on the morphology and properties of the prepared nanoporous PMSSQ films were investigated. The TEM and AFM studies show that the uniform pore morphology with pore size 10-15 nm can be prepared from a modest porogen loading level for the optimum intermolecular hydrogen bonding. The refractive index and dielectric constant of the prepared nanoporous films decreases with an increase in PS-b-P4VP loading. On the other hand, the porosity increases with an increasing PS-b-P4VP loading. This study demonstrates a methodology to control pore morphology and properties of the nanoporous PMSSQ films through the templating of PS-b-P4VP.