Method for producing porous microstructure

A method for producing a porous microstructure comprising the steps of:

• in the presence of a polymerization initiator and an emulsion stabilizer, emulsifying a continuous phase composition containing at least one monomer and a crosslinking agent with a dispersed phase composition containing a solvent and an electrolyte to obtain an emulsion containing a continuous phase and a dispersed phase dispersed in the continuous phase;
• pre-polymerizing the at least one monomer and the crosslinking agent, so that the at least one monomer and the crosslinking agent are partially polymerized to an extent that the emulsion has an increased viscosity while still being flowable;
• subjecting the emulsion to a forced sedimentation to increase a volume fraction of the dispersed phase relative to the continuous phase in the emulsion to obtain a high internal phase emulsion, wherein the dispersed phase has a volume fraction of at least 74.05% (v/v) in the high internal phase emulsion, and wherein the subjecting the emulsion to a forced sedimentation comprises subjecting the emulsion to centrifugation and removing an excess part of the continuous phase separated from the dispersed phase;
• and
• curing the continuous phase in the high internal phase emulsion and removing the dispersed phase to obtain the porous microstructure.