Methods of forming nanoporous materials are described herein that include forming a polymer network with a chemically removable portion. The chemically removable portion may be polycarbonate polymer that is removable on application of heat or exposure to a base, or a polyhexahydrotriazine (PHT) or polyhemiaminal (PHA) polymer that is removable on exposure to an acid. The method generally includes forming a reaction mixture comprising a formaldehyde, a solvent, a primary aromatic diamine, and a diamine having a primary amino group and a secondary amino group, the secondary amino group having a base-reactive substituent, and heating the reaction mixture to a temperature of between about 50 deg C. and about 150 deg C. to form a polymer. Removing any portion of the polymer results in formation of nanoscopic pores as polymer chains are decomposed, leaving pores in the polymer matrix.

A porous material includes a polyhexahydrotriazine material. Pores in the porous material can be of various sizes including nanoscale sizes. The porous material may be used in a variety of applications, such as those requiring materials with a high strength-to-weight ratio. The porous material can include a filler material dispersed therein. The filler material can be, for example, a particle, a fiber, a fabric, or the like. In some examples, the filler material can be a carbon fiber or a carbon nanotube. A method of making a porous material includes forming a resin including a polyhemiaminal or polyhexahydrotriazine component and a polythioaminal component. The resin can be heated to promote segregation of the components into different phases with predominately one or the other component in each phase. Processing of the resin after phase segregation to decompose the polythioaminal component can form pores in the resin.

The present application is directed to methods for solvent-free preparation of polymers and their subsequent processing into activated carbon materials. These methods unexpectedly demonstrate ability to tune pore structure in the polymer gel and carbon produced there from, while also providing distinct advantages over the current art.

Methods of forming nanoporous materials are described herein that include forming a polymer network with a chemically removable portion. The chemically removable portion may be polycarbonate polymer that is removable on application of heat or exposure to a base, or a polyhexahydrotriazine (PHT) or polyhemiaminal (PHA) polymer that is removable on exposure to an acid. The method generally includes forming a reaction mixture comprising a formaldehyde, a solvent, a primary aromatic diamine, and a diamine having a primary amino group and a secondary amino group, the secondary amino group having a base-reactive substituent, and heating the reaction mixture to a temperature of between about 50 deg C. and about 150 deg C. to form a polymer. Removing any portion of the polymer results in formation of nanoscopic pores as polymer chains are decomposed, leaving pores in the polymer matrix.

Methods and materials for preparing a covalent 3D nano-object are provided. A diamine or triamine monomer and a monoamine terminated precursor may be reacted to form a star polymer material. A cross-linking polymerization process may in a nanogel core with the monoamine terminated precursor covalently linked to the nanogel core. The covalent 3D nano-object may comprise HT, PHT, HA, and/or PHA materials.

A polymer is described herein that includes a plurality of N-J-N or NCS repeating units, wherein each J is independently a carbon atom, an alkyl group, or an aryl group; a plurality of hydrophilic groups bonded with the repeating units; and a plurality of hydrophobic groups bonded with the hydrophilic groups and the repeating units. Such polymers may be made into hydrogels by exposure to water, and the hydrogels may be used as delivery vehicles for various payloads.

Methods of forming nanoporous materials are described herein that include forming a polymer network with a chemically removable portion. The chemically removable portion may be polycarbonate polymer that is removable on application of heat or exposure to a base, or a polyhexahydrotriazine (PHT) or polyhemiaminal (PHA) polymer that is removable on exposure to an acid. The method generally includes forming a reaction mixture comprising a formaldehyde, a solvent, a primary aromatic diamine, and a diamine having a primary amino group and a secondary amino group, the secondary amino group having a base-reactive substituent, and heating the reaction mixture to a temperature of between about 50 deg C. and about 150 deg C. to form a polymer. Removing any portion of the polymer results in formation of nanoscopic pores as polymer chains are decomposed, leaving pores in the polymer matrix.

A polymer is described herein that includes a plurality of N-J-N or NCS repeating units, wherein each J is independently a carbon atom, an alkyl group, or an aryl group; a plurality of hydrophilic groups bonded with the repeating units; and a plurality of hydrophobic groups bonded with the hydrophilic groups and the repeating units. Such polymers may be made into hydrogels by exposure to water, and the hydrogels may be used as delivery vehicles for various payloads.

Polyhexahydrotriazine (PHT) and polyhemiaminal (PHA) materials form highly cross-linked polymers which can be used as binder resins in composite materials. A filler element functionalized with a primary amine group can be covalently bonded to the PHA/PHT polymer resins. Example filler elements include, without limitation, carbon nanotubes, silica materials, carbon and glass fibers, and nanoparticles. Filler materials are incorporated into polymeric materials to improve the mechanical strength or other characteristics of the polymeric material for various applications. Typical composite materials use thermosetting materials that, once set, are intractable. PHT and PHA materials can be reverted to starting materials by exposure to acids. Thus, composite components formed using these materials are recyclable.

Methods and materials for preparing a covalent 3D nano-object are provided. A diamine or triamine monomer and a monoamine terminated precursor may be reacted to form a star polymer material. A cross-linking polymerization process may in a nanogel core with the monoamine terminated precursor covalently linked to the nanogel core. The covalent 3D nano-object may comprise HT, PHT, HA, and/or PHA materials.