Emulsion-templated porous polymers: A retrospective perspective

PolyHIPEs are porous emulsion-templated polymers synthesized within high internal phase emulsions (HIPEs). HIPEs are highly viscous, paste-like emulsions in which the major, “internal” phase, usually defined as constituting more than 74% of the volume, is dispersed as discrete droplets within the continuous, minor, “external” phase. The surge in polyHIPE research and development parallels that of porous polymers in general and reflects the increasing number of potential applications (reaction supports, separation membranes, tissue engineering scaffolds, controlled release matrices, responsive and smart materials, and templates for porous ceramics and porous carbons). This review focuses upon the research and development in polyHIPEs through the prism of the work in our laboratory. The review includes an overview of the developments in polymerization chemistry, in the types of monomers, in the types of stabilization, in the generation of more complex polyHIPE-based systems (e.g. interpenetrating polymer networks, hybrids, bicontinuous polymers), and in unusual materials systems such as water-retaining polyHIPEs and shape-memory polyHIPEs.