Multi-functional freestanding thin films produced using plastic waste and methods thereof

A method of making a freestanding thin film with micropores, the method comprising:

• mixing a polymer material selected from the group consisting of polypropylene (PP), polyethylene (PE), polyvinyl chloride (PVC), polystyrene (PS), and any mixture or combination thereof in an organic solvent to form a solution;
• stirring the solution to obtain a stirred solution;
• pouring the stirred solution on a solid substrate to form a first coated solid substrate;
• spin coating the first coated solid substrate until the solvent is removed from a surface of the solid substrate to obtain a second coated solid substrate;
• collecting an excess polymer material and an excess solvent from a drain following the spin coating step;
• and
• removing a polymer thin film from the second coated solid substrate to obtain the freestanding thin film with micropores;
• wherein the spin coating is conducted for about 1 to about 15 minutes at an rpm of about 100 to about 6000.