Nanoporous media templated from unsymmetrical amphiphilic porogens

• US 8,268,903 B2
• Filed: 05/04/2011
• Issued: 09/18/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 04/20/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Dubois, Geraud Jean-Michel, Hedrick, James Lupton, Kim, Ho-Cheol, Lee, Victor Yee-Way, Magbitang, Teddie Peregrino, Miller, Robert Dennis, Volksen, Willi
• Primary Examiner(s): Eashoo, Mark
• Assistant Examiner(s): MCCULLEY, MEGAN CASSANDRA
• Application Number:
  US13/101,014
• Publication Number:
  US 20110245418A1
• Time in Patent Office: 503 Days
• Field of Search: 521/77, 521/63
• US Class Current: 521/63
• CPC Class Codes: C08G 63/66 Polyesters containing oxygen in the form of ether groups C08G63/42, C08G63/58 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: C08J 9/26 by elimination of a solid phase from a macromolecular composition or article, e.g. leaching out
• CPC Class Codes: C08K 5/5419 containing at least one Si—C bond
• CPC Class Codes: C08L 67/00 Compositions of polyesters obtained by reactions forming a carboxylic ester link in the main chain of polyester-amides C08L77/12; of polyester-imides C08L79/08; Compositions of derivatives of such polymers
• CPC Class Codes: C08L 83/00 Compositions of macromolecular compounds obtained by reactions forming in the main chain of the macromolecule a linkage containing silicon with or without sulfur, nitrogen, oxygen or carbon only; Compositions of derivatives of such polymers
• CPC Class Codes: C08L 83/04 Polysiloxanes

Abstract

Substantially or roughly spherical micellar structures useful in the formation of nanoporous materials by templating are disclosed. A roughly spherical micellar structure is formed by organization of one or more spatially unsymmetric organic amphiphilic molecules. Each of those molecules comprises a branched moiety and a second moiety. The branched moiety can form part of either the core or the surface of the spherical micellar structure, depending on the polarity of the environment. The roughly spherical micellar structures form in a thermosetting polymer matrix. They are employed in a templating process whereby the amphiphilic molecules are dispersed in the polymer matrix, the matrix is cured, and the porogens are then removed, leaving nanoscale pores.

Claims

1. A polymeric matrix comprising:

(a) a first component comprising at least one spatially unsymmetric organic amphiphilic molecule, each of which comprises (a1) at least one branched moiety having at least 4 arms and (a2) at least one linear polymeric moiety having a degree of polymerization of between 50 and 500; and

(b) a second component comprising at least one silicate,

wherein one of either the branched moiety and the linear moiety is lyophobic, and the other is lyophilic.

2. The matrix according to claim 1, wherein the linear moiety comprises polyethylene glycol or polypropylene glycol.

3. The matrix according to claim 1, wherein the branched moiety comprises a dendrimer.

4. The matrix according to claim 1, wherein the spatially unsymmetric molecules are in the form of micelles.

5. The matrix according to claim 1, wherein the at least one silicate is an organosilicate.

6. The matrix according to claim 5, wherein the at least one silicate comprises a silsesquioxane of the formula RSiO_1.5 where R is alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, alkoxy, aralkyl, alkaryl, or halo.

7. The matrix according to claim 5, wherein the at least one silicate comprises a silsesquioxane selected from the group consisting of methyl silsesquioxane, polymethyl silsesquioxane, polymethylhydroxyl silsesquioxane, polyphenyl silsesquioxane, polyphenylmethyl silsesquioxane, polyphenylpropyl silsesquioxane, polyphenylvinyl silsesquioxane, polycyclohexyl silsesquioxane, polycyclopentyl silsesquioxane, polycyclohexyl silsesquioxane and poly(2-chloroethyl)silsesquioxane.

8. The matrix according to claim 1, wherein the at least one silicate is selected from the group consisting of (i) silsesquioxanes;

(ii) partially condensed alkoxysilanes;

(iii) organically modified silicates having the composition RSiO₃ and R₂SiO₂; and

(iv) partially condensed orthosilicates having the composition Si(OR)₄, wherein R is alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, alkoxy, aralkyl, or halo.