HIPEs were observed by optical microscopy (Olympus BX51) with a camera QICAM (
FAST1394) and the software Linksys 32. The droplet size was determined using ImageJ analysis software as the average of 100 image readings. The macroporous structure of the polyHIPEs films was observed by field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM; Mira from TESCAN) at an accelerating voltage of 10 kV. All samples were gold-coated. The diameters of the pores were calculated by ImageJ analysis software as the average of 100 image readings.
The total pore volume (
VT) was estimated as 1/
ρb − 1/
ρw where
ρb is the polyHIPE film density and
ρw is the wall density of pores that is the density of the NC polymer (curing PDMS/Ag-Nps nanocomposite).
ρw corresponded to the density of the flat PDMS film containing the same amount of Ag-Nps than the respective polyHIPE film.
ρb and
ρw were calculated by measuring the volume and weight of the polyHIPE and flat PDMS films, respectively.
X-ray diffraction (XRD) patterns of polyHIPE films were collected by using an Empyrean diffractometer (Cu Kα radiation, 0.02° step size and 30 s counting time). In addition, polyHIPEs films were analysed by energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS) using a Bruker AXS. To verify the presence of Ag-Nps onto the porous surface of the films, EDS analysis was performed at different points of the samples.
Blancas Flores J.M., Pérez García M.G., González Contreras G., Coronado Mendoza A, & Romero Arellano V.H. (2020). Polydimethylsiloxane nanocomposite macroporous films prepared via Pickering high internal phase emulsions as effective dielectrics for enhancing the performance of triboelectric nanogenerators. RSC Advances, 11(1), 416-424.