Micro-patterned polystyrene surfaces directed by surfactant-encapsulated polyoxometalate complex via breath figures

In this paper, surfactant-encapsulated polyoxometalate complex, (DODA)9[EuW10O36] (SEC-1), is applied to functionalize the breath figure holes of polystyrene (PS) film via a straightforward, one-step process by doping SEC-1 into PS solution. Accompanied with the self-organization of the water droplets, amphiphilic SEC-1 is found to self-assemble at the PS solution–water droplet interface to stabilize the water droplets, and it effectively enhances the order of the PS microporous film. Highly ordered PS microporous film in which SEC-1 accumulates on the internal surfaces of the holes with an ordered and tight lamellar structure was obtained. The film exhibits intense red emission under ultraviolet light excitation deriving from SEC-1. Ag and Fe2O3 nanoparticles have been successfully introduced into the microporous structure through different ways. This new method is also suitable for other polymers, and the polyoxometalates with applicable properties could be readily applied to functionalize the holes of polymer microporous films.