Porous Polymer Structures Research Articles

Solar-Adaptive Cooling Blocks Composed of Recycled Fabric.

Radiative cooling technologies have had a significant impact on advancing carbon neutrality efforts by significantly improving the passive cooling efficiency. The tandem of conduction and radiation enables solar-adaptive radiative cooling through the insulating effect of materials along with solar absorption, which affects the thermal state of materials and enhances radiative thermal transfer from the surface under solar irradiation. This enhancement is achieved by utilizing the porous polymeric structure of materials, which facilitates improved conduction pathways along with solar reflectance, while maintaining the effective emission of thermal radiation. In this particular scenario, blocks, which were made of recycled fibers, offer a great opportunity as solar-adaptive cooling materials, enabling their easy deployment for cooling applications. Herein, we have fabricated a porous block using fiber wastes that combines strong solar reflectance (92%) at the 1 μm region and high thermal infrared emittance (∼75%) at the 10 μm region. The combination of effective solar reflection and thermal infrared emission allows the fiber block to achieve a high cooling performance of approximately 68 W/m2 under solar irradiation. In addition, the fiber block works effectively for insulation during the night, thereby enhancing its heat retention capabilities. The economic and environmental advantages of the fiber block make it a cost-competitive and sustainable choice for near-market cooling technologies. This design is anticipated to expand the practical application range of passive cooling.

Tomographic and mechanical study of 3D printed porous polymer structure under compression

This study investigates the influence of open porosity rate and trabeculae diameter on the compressive behavior of structure printed by DLP technology. Three types of structures have been studied : two periodic structures (Cubic and Octet) and one aperiodic structure (Voronoi-based). Each of these structures are printed with a porosity of 40, 60 and 80 % and also with two different trabeculae diameters: 0.45 mm and 0.66 mm. We investigated porosity by micro-tomograpy with ImageJ for the data treatment. We determined the curing time by making a compressive test for different lengths of UV cure. The first results of the study show that Cubic structure has better Young’s Modulus and also better mechanical stress than Octet and Voronoi-based structures.

Fabrication of Low-Cost Porous Carbon Polypropylene Composite Sheets with High Photothermal Conversion Performance for Solar Steam Generation.

The development of absorber materials with strong light absorption properties and low-cost fabrication processes is highly significant for the application of photothermal conversion technology. In this work, a mixed powder consisting of NaCl, polypropylene (PP), and scale-like carbon flakes was ultrasonically pressed into sheets, and the NaCl was then removed by salt dissolution to obtain porous carbon polypropylene composite sheets (P-CPCS). This process is simple, green, and suitable for the low-cost, large-area fabrication of P-CPCS. P-CPCS has a well-distributed porous structure containing internal and external connected water paths. Under the dual effects of the carbon flakes and porous structure, P-CPCS shows excellent photothermal conversion performance in a broad wavelength range. P-CPCS-40 achieves a high temperature of 128 °C and a rapid heating rate of 12.4 °C/s under laser irradiation (808 nm wavelength, 1.2 W/cm2 power). When utilized for solar steam generation under 1 sun irradiation, P-CPCS-40 achieves 98.2% evaporation efficiency and a 1.81 kg m-2 h-1 evaporation rate. This performance means that P-CPCS-40 outperforms most other previously reported absorbers in terms of evaporation efficiency. The combination of carbon flakes, which provide a photothermal effect, and a porous polymer structure, which provides light-capturing properties, opens up a new strategy for desalination, sewage treatment, and other related fields.

High‐Temperature Polymer Electrolyte Fuel Cells Based on Protic Ionic Liquids

ABSTRACTA hydrogen‐based energy system will be the backbone of a future energy grid using renewable energies. It is widely accepted that polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs) are promising converters of chemical energy stored as hydrogen into electrical energy. An increase of the operation temperature from below 80°C to above about 160°C is considered beneficial, as it would allow for much simpler water management and the use of waste heat. Here, we are investigating protic ionic liquids (PILs) immobilized in a polybenzimidazole polymer as electrolytes for high‐temperature PEMFCs. Ionic liquids are promising for fuel cell applications as they provide high thermal and chemical stability and high proton conductivity. In contrast to aqueous electrolytes, ionic liquids form a dense layered structure at the electrode–electrolyte interface that depends on the potential and on the content of residual water in the electrolyte. We investigate how PILs interact with the host polymer of the membrane revealing that porous polymer structures can be formed by solution casting, which allows for an encapsulation of the ionic liquid within the pores. After doping the polymer with small amounts of phosphoric acid, the membranes showed reasonable conductivity and fuel cell performance.

Straightforward Production Methods for Diverse Porous PEDOT:PSS Structures and Their Characterization.

Porous conductive polymer structures, in particular Poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) polystyrene sulfonate (PEDOT:PSS) structures, are gaining in importance due to their versatile fields of application as sensors, hydrogels, or supercapacitors, to name just a few. Moreover, (porous) conducting polymers have become of interest for wearable and smart textile applications due to their biocompatibility, which enables applications with direct skin contact. Therefore, there is a huge need to investigate distinct, straightforward, and textile-compatible production methods for the fabrication of porous PEDOT:PSS structures. Here, we present novel and uncomplicated approaches to producing diverse porous PEDOT:PSS structures and characterize them thoroughly in terms of porosity, electrical resistance, and their overall appearance. Production methods comprise the incorporation of micro cellulose, the usage of a blowing agent, creating a sponge-like structure, and spraying onto a porous base substrate. This results in the fabrication of various porous structures, ranging from thin and slightly porous to thick and highly porous. Depending on the application, these structures can be modified and integrated into electronic components or wearables to serve as porous electrodes, sensors, or other functional devices.

Poly-l-Lactic Acid Scaffolds Additivated with Rosmarinic Acid: A Multi-Analytical Approach to Assess The Morphology, Thermal Behavior, and Hydrophilicity.

This study aims to demonstrate the possibility of incorporating a natural antioxidant biomolecule into polymeric porous scaffolds. To this end, Poly-l-Lactic Acid (PLLA) scaffolds were produced using the Thermally Induced Phase Separation (TIPS) technique and additivated with different amounts of rosmarinic acid (RA). The scaffolds, with a diameter of 4 mm and a thickness of 2 mm, were characterized with a multi-analytical approach. Specifically, Scanning Electron Microscopy analyses demonstrated the presence of an interconnected porous network, characterized by a layer of RA at the level of the pore's surfaces. Moreover, the presence of RA biomolecules increased the hydrophilic nature of the sample, as evidenced by the decrease in the contact angle with water from 128° to 76°. The structure of PLLA and PLLA containing RA molecules has been investigated through DSC and XRD analyses, and the obtained results suggest that the crystallinity decreases when increasing the RA content. This approach is cost-effective, and it can be customized with different biomolecules, offering the possibility of producing porous polymeric structures containing antioxidant molecules. These scaffolds meet the requirements of tissue engineering and could offer a potential solution to reduce inflammation associated with scaffold implantation, thus improving tissue regeneration.

Porous Polymer Structures with Tunable Mechanical Properties Using a Water Emulsion Ink.

Recently, the manufacturing of porous polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) with engineered porosity has gained considerable interest due to its tunable material properties and diverse applications. An innovative approach to control the porosity of PDMS is to use transient liquid phase water to improve its mechanical properties, which has been explored in this work. Adjusting the ratios of deionized water to the PDMS precursor during blending and subsequent curing processes allows for controlled porosity, yielding water emulsion foam with tailored properties. The PDMS-to-water weight ratios were engineered ranging from 100:0 to 10:90, with the 65:35 specimen exhibiting the best mechanical properties with a Young's Modulus of 1.17 MPa, energy absorption of 0.33 MPa, and compressive strength of 3.50 MPa. This led to a porous sample exhibiting a 31.46% increase in the modulus of elasticity over a bulk PDMS sample. Dowsil SE 1700 was then added, improving the storage capabilities of the precursor. The optimal storage temperature was probed, with -60 °C resulting in great pore stability throughout a three-week duration. The possibility of using these water emulsion foams for paste extrusion additive manufacturing (AM) was also analyzed by implementing a rheological modifier, fumed silica. Fumed silica's impact on viscosity was examined, revealing that 9 wt% of silica demonstrates optimal rheological behaviors for AM, bearing a viscosity of 10,290 Pa·s while demonstrating shear-thinning and thixotropic behavior. This study suggests that water can be used as pore-formers for PDMS in conjunction with AM to produce engineered materials and structures for aerospace, medical, and defense industries as sensors, microfluidic devices, and lightweight structures.

Monolithic Porous Organic Polymer‐Photocatalyst Composites for Applications in Catalysis

AbstractThis Review provides a perspective on porous organic polymer‐photocatalyst composites obtained by coupling semiconductors and hydrophilic/hydrophobic polymers which do not modify the properties of the embedded photocatalysts, but can influence the efficiency of the overall catalytic process. Particular attention has been given to polymer composites in the form of monolithic hydrogel/sponge/aerogels obtained by dissolving the polymer in a solvent, which contains the photocatalyst dispersed, inducing gelation or solidification of the solution and subsequently removing the solvent by a drying process. The photocatalytic applications discussed here cover H2 evolution from water splitting, CO2 reduction, and organic synthesis. Indeed, the main aim of this Review is to outline an alternative perspective to the highly studied environmental photocatalytic applications, highlighting the photoactive properties of these composites thanks to the incorporation of semiconductors in the 3D porous structure of organic polymers. Finally the challenges and potential advances associated with the use of porous organic polymer‐photocatalyst composites for future scientific research are outlined.

Designing super-fast trimodal sponges using recycled polypropylene for organics cleanup

Sorbent pads and films have been commonly used for environmental remediation purposes, but designing their internal structure to optimize access to the entire volume while ensuring cost-effectiveness, ease of fabrication, sufficient strength, and reusability remains challenging. Herein, we report a trimodal sorbent film from recycled polypropylene (PP) with micropores, macro-voids, and sponge-like 3D cavities, developed through selective dissolution, thermally induced phase separation, and annealing. The sorbent has hundreds of cavities per cm2 that are capable of swelling up to twenty-five times its thickness, allowing for super-fast saturation kinetics (within 30 s) and maximum oil sorption (97 g/g). The sorption mechanism follows a pseudo-second-order kinetic model. Moreover, the sorbent is easily compressible, and its structure is retained during oil sorption, desorption, and resorption, resulting in 96.5% reuse efficiency. The oil recovery process involves manually squeezing the film, making the cleanup process efficient with no chemical treatment required. The sorbent film possesses high porosity for effective sorption with sufficient tensile strength for practical applications. Our integrated technique results in a strengthened porous polymeric structure that can be tailored according to end-use applications. This study provides a sustainable solution for waste management that offers versatility in its functionality.

Sorption-Deformation Interplay in Hierarchical Porous Polymeric Structures Composed of a Slit Pore in an Amorphous Matrix.

Prevailing absorbents like wood-derived porous scaffolds or polymeric aerogels are normally featured with hierarchical porous structures. In former molecular simulation studies, sorption, deformation, and coupled sorption-deformation have been studied for single-scale materials, but scarcely for materials where micropores (<2 nm) and mesopores (2-50 nm) coexist. The present work, dealing with a mesoscopic slit pore between two slabs of microporous amorphous cellulose (AC), aims at modeling sorption-deformation interplay in hierarchical porous cellulosic structures inspired by polymeric modern adsorbents. Specifically, the atomic system is modeled by a hybrid workflow combining molecular dynamics (MD) and grand canonical Monte Carlo (GCMC) simulations. The results clarify the multiple sorption/deformation mechanisms in porous materials with different slit-pore sizes, including water filling in micropores, surface covering at the solid-air interface, and subsequent capillary condensation in mesopores. In particular, before the onset of capillary condensation, the sorption behavior of the AC matrix in the hybrid system is almost the same as that of bulk AC, in which sorption and deformation enhance each other through sorption-induced swelling and additional sorption in the newly created voids. Upon capillary condensation, the interaction between the micropores and the mesopore emerges. Water molecules in the mesopore exert a negative hydrostatic pressure perpendicular to the slab surface on the matrices, resulting in an increase in porosity and water content, a decrease in distance between the centers of mass (COMs) of the slabs, and thus a thinning of the slit pore. As described by Bangham's Law, the surface area of the rough slit-pore slab increases proportionally to the surface energy variation during surface covering. For a system composed of a compliant polymer like AC, however, the surface area enlargement does not result in an in-plane swelling as expected but instead in an in-plane shrinkage along with an increase in local roughness or irregularity (an accordion effect).

Thioflavin-T-Incorporated Cerium-ATP Coordination Polymer Nanoparticles: A Promising System for Detection of Uranyl Ion (UO22+) in Aqueous Medium.

Lanthanide-based coordination polymer nanoparticles (Ln-CPNs) are studied for analytical and biomedical sensing, mainly utilizing the luminescent properties of lanthanides. However, the inclusion of fluorescent guest molecules within the nanoparticles can lead to a stimuli-responsive system with modulated photo-physical properties that can be useful for detecting analytes. In this work, we have synthesized cerium(III) coordination polymer nanoparticles using adenosine triphosphate (ATP) molecules as the ligands. The porous polymeric structure enables CPNs for reversible inclusion and release of thioflavin-T (ThT), which is a weakly emissive dye in the free state but becomes highly emissive when incorporated into the Ce-ATP CPNs. Modulation of the photo-physical properties of ThT-incorporated CPNs in response to the radiotoxic and environmentally alarming uranyl ion (UO22+) has been used for its detection in aqueous medium in the range of 0-20 μM by fluorimetry with an LOD of 80 ng mL-1 (0.34 μM) in deionized water without interference from the most commonly occurring metal ions. Furthermore, the sensing platform has been successfully utilized for UO22+ determination in seawater sample without any pre-treatment and adjustment of pH.

Three-Dimensional Biomaterials with Spatiotemporal Control for Regenerative Tissue Engineering.

At Morehouse College, one of the nation's top liberal arts historically black colleges and universities (HBCU) for African American men, research experiences are used to enhance the liberal arts educational experience. Securing research funding to train HBCU students is highly competitive and challenging due to the review process that is typically vetted by scientists from research-intensive universities who may not be familiar with the HBCU enterprise that may be comprised of insolvent infrastructures. In this Account, the synthesis and preparation of synthetic polymeric biomaterials that are used to facilitate or support changes in biological processes, enhance mechanical properties, and foster tissue growth in three dimensions (3D) under disease conditions will be discussed. The use of biomaterials to help control biological processes in disease states is limited. Hence, the fabrication of 3D scaffolds with chemical variability to grow or repair damaged tissues by inhibiting molecular pathways shows promise by controlling the cellular response to recapitulate 3D tissues and organs. The Mendenhall laboratory at Morehouse College uses 3D biomaterials to solve biological problems by probing cellular mechanistic pathways using natural products and nanoparticles. Toward this end, we have fabricated and manufactured 3D biomaterial scaffolds using chemical strategies to mitigate biological processes to help restore pristine tissue properties. Hydrogels are 3D polymeric matrixes that swell in aqueous environments and support cell growth that later infuriates the 3D matrix to create new tissue(s). In contrast, electrospun fibers use high electric fields to create porous 3D polymeric structures that can be used to create 3D tissue molds.The synergistic use of 3D biomaterial templates that can inhibit cellular damage while providing a mechanically strong scaffold to support regenerative tissue growth is essential to creating the next generation of biomaterials. This approach will require foresight using tools from synthetic biology, molecular biology, autonomous processes, advanced biomanufacturing, and machine learning (ML). The use of several biomaterials has been explored by the Mendenhall laboratory to design, prepare, fabricate, characterize, and evaluate 3D electrospun fibers and hydrogels containing hybrid compositions of polylactic acid (PLA), poly(n-vinylcaprolactam) (PVCL), cellulose acetate (CA), and methacrylated hyaluronic acid (meHA). This work contributed to the newly fabricated PVCL-CA fibers with morphological changes and nanoscale fiber hydrophobic surface properties. While the use of electrospun fibers can create hierarchal scaffolds for bone tissue engineering, the use of injectable gels for nonporous tissues such as articular cartilage presents another compelling biomaterial challenge. Using graft polymerization, we prepared PVLC-graft-HA and studied the effect of lower critical solution temperatures (LCSTs), gelation temperatures, and mechanical properties using temperature-controlled rheology. Additionally, we reported that articular cartilage (chondrocyte) cells seeded in PVCL-g-HA gels and incubated at hypoxia 1% O2 produced a 10-fold increase in extracellular matrix proteins (collagen) after 10 days. This work supported exploring new approaches to protecting chondrocyte cells under hypoxia using a 3D scaffold technology.

Recent Progress in Light‐Scattering Porous Polymers and Their Applications

AbstractConventional inorganic‐nanoparticles‐based scattering systems have dominated many practical applications for years. In contrast, the rise of porous polymers is perceived as a game‐changer due to their low cost, facile preparation, and great abundance. One challenging issue to be tackled is the design and fabrication of porous polymers with light‐scattering properties comparable to those of inorganic nanoparticles. Taking inspiration from nature (e.g., from white beetles Cyphochilus), scientists have achieved remarkable progress in the field of light‐scattering porous polymers and their related applications in recent years. Therefore, here, an up‐to‐date review about this emerging field is provided. This overview covers materials for making porous polymer structures, detailed fabrication methods, and applications benefitting from their tailorable light‐scattering properties. It is envisioned that more bioinspired light‐scattering porous polymers will be made to be potential alternatives of conventional nanoparticles‐based scatterers.

Effect of poling on the dielectric properties of synthesized β-poly (vinylidene fluoride) foam

A straightforward scalable method for synthesizing β-poly (vinylidene fluoride) polymer foam from a sugar template has been used. A characteristic β-phase of the foam was confirmed by infrared and micro-Raman spectroscopy with significant enhancement observed after poling. The electrical polarization of the foam revealed a ferroelectric nature with dielectric strength higher than 30 kV/cm which is close to the commercial value. Poled samples had a dielectric constant of 5.5, higher than the value of the unpoled sample (3.05). These values appear stable over the low-frequency range from 1 kHz to 1 MHz. Significant reverse behavior was observed at higher frequencies from 300 GHz to 3 THz frequencies. It was found that the open-cell foam with a porosity of 88% has the lowest dielectric constant value (1.07 at 1.8 THz, reaching 1.04 at 2.9 THz) compared to the foam with 20% porosity (2.17 at 1 THz, reaching 1.83 at 3 THz). Furthermore, the Maxwell Garnett model, in conjunction with THz imaging, confirmed the impact of porosity on dielectric properties. These findings pave the way for the efficient fabrication of ferroelectric porous polymer structures that can be used in dielectric switching at the kHz–THz frequency range.

Phase Behavior of NR/PMMA Semi-IPNs and Development of Porous Structures

In this research, the porous polymer structures (IPN) were made from natural isoprene rubber (NR) and poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA). The effects of molecular weight and crosslink density of polyisoprene on the morphology and miscibility with PMMA were determined. Sequential semi-IPNs were prepared. Viscoelastic, thermal and mechanical properties of semi-IPN were studied. The results showed that the key factor influencing the miscibility in semi-IPN was the crosslinking density of the natural rubber. The degree of compatibility was increased by doubling the crosslinking level. The degree of miscibility at two different compositions was compared by simulations of the electron spin resonance spectra. Compatibility of semi-IPNs was found to be more efficient when the PMMA content was less than 40 wt.%. A nanometer-sized morphology was obtained for a NR/PMMA ratio of 50/50. Highly crosslinked elastic semi-IPN followed the storage modulus of PMMA after the glass transition as a result of certain degree of phase mixing and interlocked structure. It was shown that the morphology of the porous polymer network could be easily controlled by the proper choice of concentration and composition of crosslinking agent. A dual phase morphology resulted from the higher concentration and the lower crosslinking level. This was used for developing porous structures from the elastic semi-IPN. The mechanical performance was correlated with morphology, and the thermal stability was comparable with respect to pure NR. Investigated materials might be interesting for use as potential carriers of bioactive molecules aimed for innovative applications such as in food packaging.

Engineering the Pore Structure and Functionality of Ionic Porous Polymers for Separating Acetylene over Carbon Dioxide

AbstractPrecise engineering of organic porous polymers to realize the selective separation of structurally similar gases presents a great challenge. In this study, a new class of ionic porous polymers P(Ph3Im‐Br‐nDVB) with a high ionic density and microporous surface area are constructed through a facile copolymerization strategy, providing an efficient path to rational control over pore structure and functionality. The first example of ionic porous organic polymers is reported to address the challenge of discriminating the subtle difference of C2H2 and CO2, which have almost identical molecular sizes and similar physicochemical properties, which achieve the highest C2H2/CO2 selectivity (17.9) among porous organic polymers. These ionic porous polymers exhibit high stability and excellent dynamic breakthrough performance for binary C2H2/CO2 mixtures, indicating their practical feasibility. Modeling studies reveal that anions are the specific binding sites for preferential C2H2 capture because of Br−···HCCH interactions. This study not only demonstrates an efficient strategy to build novel ionic porous polymers integrating abundant micropores and ionic sites but also sheds some light on the development of functionalized materials for the separation of structurally similar gas molecules.

Hybrid emitters with raspberry-like hollow SiO2 spheres for passive daytime radiative cooling

Passive daytime radiative cooling (PDRC) has been vigorously investigated in recent years because it does not require electrical energy, reducing greenhouse gas emissions for a more sustainable society. Representative approaches to improve radiative cooling performance are the design of metamaterials with a long-wave infrared (LWIR) emissivity and porous polymer structures with a high-solar reflectivity. Furthermore, coating materials for a simple process should be researched to improve the applicability of radiative cooling. In this study, we investigate a daytime radiative cooling coating using raspberry-like hollow SiO2 spheres (RHSs) to achieve effective radiative cooling performance and a simple coating process. The raspberry-like morphologies of the synthesized hollow SiO2 spheres contribute to multiple scattering of sunlight, resulting in enhanced performance of the radiative cooling coating. Moreover, the results of an outdoor experiment and energy-saving demonstration suggest that the RHS coating is suitable for effective heat management of the buildings. The RHS coating achieves a cooling temperature of 9.7 °C under solar irradiance of 800 W m−2. The inner temperature of a house coated with PDRC is 6.6 °C lower than that of a bare house under direct sunlight.

Microspherical polystyrene-divinylbenzene particles hybridized with eremomycin stabilized gold nanoparticles as a stationary phase for chiral liquid chromatography

A novel enantioselective adsorbent was obtained by hybridization of microspherical polystyrene-divinylbenzene (PS-DVB) macroporous particles with eremomycin-stabilized gold nanoparticles (GNPs). Macrocyclic antibiotic eremomycin was used as a stabilization agent to obtain GNPs which were then characterized by transmission electron microscope. The average diameter of obtained nanoparticles is about 16.6 nm. Eremomycin-stabilized nanoparticles were successfully embedded into the porous polymer structure with a resulting chiral selector content of 37.5 pmol/g. The obtained PS-DVB composite containing GNPs with immobilized eremomycin was studied by scanning electron microscopy and diffuse reflectance spectroscopy. The values of the specific surface area (500 m2/g) and porosity of the adsorbent (0.39 cm3/g) are measured using nitrogen adsorption at low temperatures. The obtained composite material was used as a chiral stationary phase of liquid chromatography. A good separation enantio-selectivity to amino acids, their derivatives and beta-blockers under RPC (reversed-phase) and HILIC (Hidrophilic Interaction Liquid Chromatography) mode is demonstrated. The results obtained revealed that the prepared Eremo@GNP@PS-DVB composite is promising for use as a stationary phase in HPLC.

Removal of oils and organic solvents from wastewater through swelling of porous crosslinked poly(ethylene-co-vinyl acetate): Preparation of adsorbent and their oil removal efficiency

In this novel study, an attempt has been made to prepare porous crosslinked poly(ethylene-co-vinyl acetate) polymer (C-EVA). The porous C-EVA was prepared by grafting of maleic anhydride and cetyl alcohol onto the polymer backbone with addition of NaCl as porogen in the brabender mixture at 120 °C and 80 rpm. This was followed by leaching of NaCl with water extraction to generate a highly porous polymer structure which was evident from its SEM micrographs. The polymer was found to have excellent swelling capacity in various oils and organic solvents and showed good selective absorption capacity. The reusability of the synthesized polymer was studied and it was found that it could be reused for more than 30 absorption desorption cycles without undergoing much change in its absorption capacity. The cross-linked polymeric composite was further characterized by FTIR, TGA, XRD, and SEM.

Photocurable Coatings to Improve the Mechanical Properties of 3D Printable Expanding Foams.

Recent developments of highly expandable foaming pre-polymer resins for lithographic additive manufacturing have allowed for the creation of structures larger than a printer's build envelope. To fully utilize the capabilities of this technology, the mechanical properties of these foams must be improved. This manuscript presents one method for strengthening these lightweight polymeric structures via aerosol spray application of a high-strength, low-viscosity photocurable coating. This method is free from the reliance on often complex, large, or bulky on-site equipment ordinarily required by conventional high-strength spray coating. The newly formulated photocurable resin can be applied using an ordinary cordless paint sprayer and cured using sunlight in less than a minute, enabling the rapid production of large, load-bearing structures from a small volume of feedstock and low-cost portable equipment. A comprehensive screening process for resin formulations, detailed mechanical compression and tensile analysis of coated polymer structures, and an applied technical demonstration of the technology are described. The photocurable coating described herein greatly strengthens porous polymeric structures using a method that can be easily implemented.