Ferrocene-Containing Porous Poly(Ionic Liquid) Membranes: Synthesis and Application as Sacrificial Template for Porous Iron Oxide Films.

Herein, the fabrication of iron-containing porous polyelectrolyte membranes (PPMs) via ionic complexation between an imidazolium-based poly(ionic liquid) (PIL) and 1,1-ferrocenedicarboxylic acid is reported. The key parameters to control the microstructure of porous hybrid membranes are investigated in detail. Further aerobic pyrolysis of such porous hybrid membranes at 900 °C can transfer the ferrocene-containing PPMs into freestanding porous iron oxide films. This process points out a sacrificial template function of porous poly(ionic liquid) membranes in the fabrication of porous metal oxide films.