Nanothin polymer films with selective pores and method of use thereof

Abstract

One aspect of the invention provides a nanothin polymer film having a plurality of pores defined solely by polymers of the polymer film. The pores have a uniform size. Another aspect of the invention provides a method of using a polymer film capsule with pores defined solely by the film described herein. The method includes: separating a mixture of chemicals having variable surface areas from the polymer film capsule by using a size exclusion column; collecting the polymer film capsule eluate from the size exclusion column; and determining a content of chemicals retained in the polymer film capsule by using UV/vis spectroscopy.

1 . A nanothin polymer film having a plurality of pores defined solely by polymers of the polymer film, the pores having a uniform size. 
     
     
         2 . The film of  claim 1 , wherein the film has a thickness of from about 1 nm to about 1.5 nm. 
     
     
         3 . The film of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of pores are sized such that the plurality of pores permit passage of particles having a smallest cross-section of about 0.6 nm and smaller. 
     
     
         4 . The film of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of pores are sized such that the plurality of pores permit passage of particles having a smallest cross-section of about 1.1 nm and smaller. 
     
     
         5 . The film of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of pores are sized such that the plurality of pores retain particles having a smallest cross-section of about 1.1 nm in size and larger. 
     
     
         6 . The film of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of pores are sized such that the plurality of pores retain particles having a smallest cross-section of about 1.6 nm in size and larger. 
     
     
         7 . A method of using a polymer film capsule with pores defined solely by the film according to  claim 1 , the method comprising:
 separating a mixture of chemicals having variable surface areas from the polymer film capsule by using a size exclusion column;   collecting the polymer film capsule eluate from the size exclusion column; and   determining a content of chemicals retained in the polymer film capsule by using UV/vis spectroscopy.