The present invention includes a hydrogel and a method of making a porous hydrogel by preparing an aqueous mixture of an uncrosslinked polymer and a crystallizable molecule; casting the mixture into a vessel; allowing the cast mixture to dry to form an amorphous hydrogel film; seeding the cast mixture with a seed crystal of the crystallizable molecule; growing the crystallizable molecule into a crystal structure within the uncrosslinked polymer; crosslinking the polymer around the crystal structure under conditions in which the crystal structure within the crosslinked polymer is maintained; and dissolving the crystals within the crosslinked polymer to form the porous hydrogel.

When the porous membrane, which has two surfaces of a surface A and a surface C, is equally divided in the thickness direction of the porous membrane into three layers of a first layer including the surface A, a second layer that is a central layer in the thickness direction, and a third layer including the surface C, an average trunk size of the third layer is larger than an average trunk size of the second layer, and when a continuous layer from the surface A having a thickness of 10 ?m in the first layer is a first layer component, a continuous layer component having a thickness of 10 ?m and an average trunk size smaller than an average trunk size of the first layer component is present in the first layer, the second layer, and the third layer other than the first layer component.

The present invention relates to a method for producing a three-dimensional ordered porous microstructure. In the method of the invention where the three-dimensional ordered microstructure is produced using the colloidal crystal templating process, the three-dimensional ordered microstructure thus formed is subjected to heat treatment to soften the particles, so as to effectively increase the contact between orderly arranged particles while removing the solvent used to suspend the particles. The present invention further relates to a monolithic column produced thereby. Compared to the monolithic columns produced by conventional methods, the monolithic column according to the invention is characterized in having a higher aspect ratio and a higher pore regularity, while the connecting pores in the column are relatively large in pore size.

The present invention relates to a method for producing a three-dimensional ordered porous microstructure. In the method of the invention where the three-dimensional ordered microstructure is produced using the colloidal crystal templating process, the three-dimensional ordered microstructure thus formed is subjected to heat treatment to soften the particles, so as to effectively increase the contact between orderly arranged particles while removing the solvent used to suspend the particles. The present invention further relates to a monolithic column produced thereby. Compared to the monolithic columns produced by conventional methods, the monolithic column according to the invention is characterized in having a higher aspect ratio and a higher pore regularity, while the connecting pores in the column are relatively large in pore size.

A polyamide aerogel and method of making the same is disclosed. The aerogel includes para-substituted monomers without a cross-linking agent.

A thermal insulation sheet is used that includes a fiber, a silica aerogel contained in the fiber, and a fibrous cavity. A method for manufacturing a thermal insulation sheet is used that includes: an impregnation step of impregnating a silica aerosol in a nonwoven fabric substrate containing a fiber that is insoluble in an acidic solution, and a fiber that is soluble in the acidic solution; a gelling step of gelling the silica aerosol; a hydrophobizing step of hydrophobizing the gel; and a drying step of drying the gel. The fiber that is soluble in the acidic solution is dissolved in the hydrophobizing step.

A thermal insulation sheet is used that includes a fiber, a silica aerogel contained in the fiber, and a fibrous cavity. A method for manufacturing a thermal insulation sheet is used that includes: an impregnation step of impregnating a silica aerosol in a nonwoven fabric substrate containing a fiber that is insoluble in an acidic solution, and a fiber that is soluble in the acidic solution; a gelling step of gelling the silica aerosol; a hydrophobizing step of hydrophobizing the gel; and a drying step of drying the gel. The fiber that is soluble in the acidic solution is dissolved in the hydrophobizing step.

In accordance with the purpose(s) of the present disclosure, as embodied and broadly described herein, embodiments of the present disclosure, in one aspect, relate to macroporous photonic crystal membranes, structures including macroporous photonic crystal membranes, devices including macroporous photonic crystal membranes, methods of using macroporous photonic crystal membranes, methods of making macroporous photonic crystal membranes, and the like.

In accordance with the purpose(s) of the present disclosure, as embodied and broadly described herein, embodiments of the present disclosure, in one aspect, relate to macroporous photonic crystal membranes, structures including macroporous photonic crystal membranes, devices including macroporous photonic crystal membranes, methods of using macroporous photonic crystal membranes, methods of making macroporous photonic crystal membranes, and the like.

Provided are a varnish for porous polyimide film production, providing an unburned composite film that is less likely to have a sea-island structure, and a method for producing a porous polyimide film using the same. The varnish according to the present invention comprises a resin including polyamide acid and/or polyimide, fine particles, and a solvent, and has a fine particle content of not less than 65% by volume relative to the total of the resin and the fine particles and a viscosity at 25 C. of not less than 550 mPa.Math.s. Preferably, the varnish further comprises a dispersant. The method for producing a porous polyimide film according to the present invention comprises: forming an unburned composite film using the varnish; burning the unburned composite film to obtain a polyimide-fine particle composite film; and removing the fine particles from the polyimide-fine particle composite film.