Processing and morphology of molecularly imprinted nylon thin films

The characterization of thin, selectively imprinted films of nylon-6 was performed. Amino acids were used as template molecules. Spin-cast films were prepared with sizes ranging from 2 μm to 300 nm, depending on the nylon and template concentration in the casting solution. The morphological characteristics of the film surface were examined by atomic force microscopy, and the structure within the films was observed by freeze-fracture scanning electron microscopy. The film activity was clearly coordinated with the appearance of nanometer-sized pores both on the surface and within the film. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 101: 2919–2926, 2006