Development of SnO ₂ -nanocrystal-coated porous 3D polymer networks via photo sintering and cold crystallization

In this study, colloidal films of polystyrene micro particles were transformed into porous films with 3D networks via photo sintering. The wavelength of the irradiation light was the same as the absorption wavelength of polystyrene. The irradiated light softened the particles and enabled the formation of porous 3D networks. Furthermore, the porous 3D networks were coated with SnO2 crystals via cold crystallization. The SnO2 crystals were allowed to nucleate and grow on the surfaces of the polystyrene 3D networks in an SnF2 aqueous solution at 50°C for 2 h. Thus, SnO2-crystal-coated porous 3D polymer networks were developed via the following damage-free methods: light irradiation and aqueous phase crystallization.