Negatively Charged Porous Thin Film from ABA Triblock Copolymer Assembly

The preparation of well-arranged nano-porous thin films from an ABA triblock copolymer of polystyrene-block-poly(sodium 4-styrenesulfonate)-block-polystyrene (PS-PNaSS-PS) is reported. This copolymer was self-assembled in a N,N-dimethylformamide (DMF)/water mixture and the resulting micellar solution was used to prepare thin films via the compact packing of the flower-like micelles using spin coating method. The films were characterized by several microscopy techniques such as TEM, AFM, and SEM. Permeation test was performed to highlight the interconnected porous nature of the polymeric network obtained. Under applied water pressure, the micellar morphology was altered and a partial fusion of the micelles was observed that resulted in a change in the water permeability. Such hydrophilic nanoporous thin films with negatively charged interface could find applications in membrane filtration.