# US 2025/0083109 A1 · Polymeric Composites Having Oriented Nanopores and Methods of Making the Same > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2025/0083109 A1 - Document ID: US20250083109A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 18/614,093 - Filed: 2024-03-22 - Published: 2025-03-13 - Earliest claimed: 2016-03-09 - Applicants: Yale University - Inventors: Chinedum Osuji; Xunda Feng - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20250083109A1 ## CPC - B01D 67/0034: {by micromachining techniques, e.g. using masking and etching steps, photolithography} - B01D 61/027: {Nanofiltration} - B01D 69/02: characterised by their properties - B01D 69/1214: {Chemically bonded layers, e.g. cross-linking} - B01D 69/125: {In situ manufacturing by polymerisation, polycondensation, cross-linking or chemical reaction} - B01D 71/401: {Polymers based on the polymerisation of acrylic acid, e.g. polyacrylate} - B01D 71/701: {Polydimethylsiloxane} - B05D 1/00: Processes for applying liquids or other fluent materials (B05D5/00, B05D7/00 take precedence) - B05D 3/007: {After-treatment} - B05D 3/046: {Curing or evaporating the solvent} - B05D 3/061: {using U.V.} - B32B 17/10798: {containing silicone} - B32B 27/08: of synthetic resin - B32B 27/283: {comprising polysiloxanes} - B01D 61/025: {Reverse osmosis; Hyperfiltration} - B01D 2323/219: Specific solvent system - B01D 2323/30: Cross-linking - B01D 2323/345: UV-treatment - B01D 2325/02831: less than 1 nm - B32B 2255/10: on synthetic resin layer or on natural or synthetic rubber layer - B32B 2255/26: Polymeric coating - B01D: SEPARATION (separating solids from solids by wet methods B03B, B03D; by pneumatic jigs or tables B03B; by other dry methods B07; magnetic or electrostatic separation of solid materials from solid materials or fluids, separation by high-voltage electric fields B03C; centrifuges, vortex apparatus B04; presses per se for squeezing-out liquid from liquid-containing material B30B9/02; treatment of water C02F, e.g. softening by ion-exchange C02F1/42; {arrangements of air intake cleaners in gas turbine plants F02C7/05} ; arrangements or mounting of filters in air-conditioning, air-humidification or ventilation F24F13/28) - B05D: PROCESSES FOR APPLYING FLUENT MATERIALS TO SURFACES, IN GENERAL (conveying articles or workpieces through baths of liquid B65G, e.g. B65G49/02) - B32B: LAYERED PRODUCTS, i.e. PRODUCTS BUILT-UP OF STRATA OF FLAT OR NON-FLAT, e.g. CELLULAR OR HONEYCOMB, FORM ## Abstract The present invention relates to the development and fabrication of thin-film polymer composite materials containing vertically aligned nanopores. The present invention provides methods of aligning nanopores in a polymeric film. The present invention also provides composite materials and methods of fabricating composite materials containing vertically aligned nanopores. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method of aligning nanopores in a polymeric film, comprising the steps of: depositing a solution of at least one monomer in a solvent onto a surface of a first substrate to form a mesophase comprised of nanopores; applying a second substrate onto a surface of the mesophase, such that the mesophase is in contact with both the first substrate and the second substrate, and wherein the nanopores at least partially align in response to the second substrate; and polymerizing the mesophase to form a polymeric film containing the at least partially aligned nanopores. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the monomer is sodium 3,4,5-tris(11′-acryloyloxyundecyloxy)benzoate (Na-GA3C11). ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the solvent further comprises a photoinitiator and the photoinitiator is 2,4,6-trimethylbenzoyl-diphenylphosphine oxide. ### Claim at position 4 -6. (canceled) ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the first substrate is a polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) substrate or a glass substrate. ### Claim 8 (canceled) ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the second substrate is a PDMS substrate or a glass substrate. ### Claim 10 (canceled) ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of: raising the temperature of the mesophase such that the mesophase is in a disordered state; and controlling the rate of cooling of the mesophase as it returns to an ordered state. ### Claim at position 10 -16. (canceled) ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) A polymeric film formed by the method of claim 1. ### Claim 18 A composite material, comprising: a first substrate; a second substrate; and a layer between the first and second substrate, the layer comprising at least one monomer, at least one photoinitiator and a plurality of nanopores; wherein the plurality of nanopores are at least partially aligned in the layer. ### Claim 19 (canceled) ### Claim 20 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the step of depositing a solution of at least one monomer in a solvent onto a surface of a first substrate to form a mesophase comprised of nanopores further comprises the step of removing the solvent; and the step of applying a second substrate onto a surface of the mesophase, wherein the mesophase is in contact with both the first substrate and the second substrate, and wherein the nanopores at least partially align in response to the second substrate further comprises the step of raising the temperature of the mesophase such that the mesophase is in a disordered state and controlling the rate of cooling of the mesophase as it returns to an ordered state. ### Claim at position 15 -26. (canceled) ### Claim 27 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the method further comprises removing at least one of the substrates from the composite material after the polymerizing step. ### Claim 28 A method of fabricating a polymeric film of aligned nanopores, comprising the steps of: depositing a mixture of at least one monomer and at least one template compound onto a surface of a first substrate to form a mesophase; polymerizing the mesophase to form a polymeric film; rinsing the polymeric film with NaOH in DMSO to remove the template compound; and wetting the polymeric film with water to form aligned nanopores. ### Claim 29 (depends on 28) The method of claim 28, further comprising the step of applying a second substrate prior to polymerization. ### Claim 30 (depends on 29) The method of claim 29, wherein the first substrate and second substrate are glass substrates. ### Claim 31 (depends on 29) The method of claim 29, wherein the first and second substrate are coated with poly(sodium styrene sulfonate) or octadecyltrimethoxysilane. ### Claim 32 (canceled) ### Claim 33 (depends on 28) The method of claim 28, wherein the mixture further comprises at least one crosslinker and at least one photoinitiator. ### Claim 34 (canceled) ### Claim 35 (canceled) ### Claim 36 (depends on 28) The method of claim 28, wherein the monomer is an unsaturated fatty acid or epoxidized fatty acid. ### Claim 37 (canceled) ### Claim 38 (depends on 28) The method of claim 28, wherein the template compound is 1,3,5-tris(1H-benzo[d]imidazol-2-yl)benzene. ### Claim 39 (depends on 28) The method of claim 28, wherein the monomer and template compound are in the mixture in a ratio of about 3:1. ### Claim 40 (canceled) ### Claim 41 (depends on 28) The method of claim 28, further comprising the steps of: applying a magnetic field to the mesophase; rotating the mesophase about the normal of the first substrate; heating the mesophase; and gradually cooling the mesophase to room temperature. ### Claim 42 (depends on 28) A polymeric film formed by the method of claim 28.