Airflow-induced nanochannel orientation in mesoporous polymers and carbon films

• Mesoporporus polymer and carbon films were prepared by using airflow method.
• The nanochannels in mesoporous polymers and carbon films were strictly arranged along the airflow direction.
• The controlling principal can be attributed to the results of shearing force and the rapid evaporation of the solvent.

Ordered mesoporous polymers and carbon films with controllable orientation of two-dimensional (2D) cylinders exhibit interesting properties for many applications. However, the preparation of such films is challenging because of inefficient present methods, which are effective for the preparation of mesoporous metal films. Here, a simple and facile method was developed to control the orientation of nanochannels by the airflow method. The nanochannels in mesoporous polymers and carbon films were strictly arranged along the airflow direction as determined by cross-section transmission electron microscopy and grazing-incidence small-angle X-ray scattering results. The orientation degree of the nanochannels was affected by the airflow speed and precursor concentration. The universality of this method in controlling the nanochannel orientation in various mesostructured films was discussed based on the shearing force generated during the interaction between airflow and precursor solution and the rapid evaporation of the solvent.

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