Effect of amphiphilic copolymer containing ruthenium tris(bipyridyl) photosensitizer on the formation of honeycomb-patterned film

A new functional amphiphilic polymer (A(p)) containing ruthenium tris(bipyridyl) photosensitizer was synthesized and a honeycomb-patterned film was fabricated by casting a polystyrene solution and different concentrations of A(p) under humid conditions. The amphiphilic copolymer was obtained by the radical copolymerization of ruthenium (4-vinyl-4'-methyl-2,2'-bipyridine)bis(2,2'-bipyridine)bis(hexa-flurophosphate) with N-dodecylacrylamide and N-isopropylacrylamide. Without the addition of A(p) irregularly ordered porous films were obtained, while adding A(p) in the casting solution resulted in highly ordered honeycomb-patterned films. In addition, the pore diameter and height of the porous structure increased with the increase of Ap amount in the solution. However, an excessive amount of Ap induced an irregularly structured pattern with small pore sizes. (C) 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.