Characterization of low-density copper-doped PMP foam by high resolution electron microscopy

With copper powders as dopant, Copper-doped poly-4-methyl-1-pentene(PMP) foams were prepared by thermal-induced phase inversion. Their skeleton, composition and element small area distribution were characterized by high resolution electron microscopy. The results show that the distribution of copper powders in the doped PMP foams is condensed, not uniform. Compared with PMP foams without doping, the size of pores and skeleton of the doped PMP foams is bigger. Copper particles in the doped foams are firmly enwrapped by carbon network, and there is oxygen besides copper and carbon, which is not anticipated during the foams synthesis.