Synthesis of a Novel Porous Polymer/Ceramic Composite Material by Low-Temperature Atomic Layer Deposition

Highly porous poly(styrene-divinylbenzene) particles (∼85% porosity, 8−10 cm 3 /g pore volume, 43.5 m 2 /g surface area, 70 kg/m 3 particle density, and ∼600 μm diameter) were synthesized by copolymerization of styrene and divinylbenzene. Conformal alumina films were grown on internal and external polymer particle surfaces at 33 °C by atomic layer deposition (ALD). Analytical characterization revealed that the pore filling mechanism was a uniform coating of the pore walls. ALD provides a controllable method for reinforcing porous polymeric structures while modifying surface properties. Such surface functionalization may promote cell adhesion and proliferation for tissue engineering applications.