Particle-stabilized surfactant-free medium internal phase emulsions as templates for porous nanocomposite materials: Poly-pickering-foams

We report on the successful use of particle-stabilized Medium Internal Phase Emulsion (MIPE) templates for the synthesis of porous polymer foams. In this case, carbon nanotubes (CNTs) were used to stabilize the minority phase as the continuous phase, through adsorption at the interface. The addition of the CNTs not only provides processing advantages (no need for traditional non-ionic molecular surfactants) but also enhances the mechanical and electrical properties of the final polyFoams. This approach allows the manufacture of both closed- and open-celled porous polymer foams in a one-pot process with porosities up to 66%.