Abstract:

In the midst of this era of nanotechnology and shrinking device size, block copolymers have evolved from their use in traditional application areas (e.g., adhesives, additives, and elastomers) to enable the development of materials for new emerging and more advanced technologies. This review discusses the use of block copolymers to generate nanoporous polymers that can be used either directly, in applications such as membrane filtration, or subsequently as a template for the formation of other nanostructured materials. The work within describes published research from the beginning of 2005 to the present discussing nanoporous materials in the context of: (i) nanolithography and new alignment technologies, (ii) monoliths, (iii) new fabrication techniques, and (iv) membranes. A summary and perspective on the current direction of the stimulating area of block copolymer derived nanoporous materials concludes the review.