Polymeric three-dimensional inverse-opal
(IO) structures provide unique structural properties useful for various
applications ranging from optics to separation technologies. Despite
vast needs for IO functionalization to impart additional chemical
properties, this task has been seriously challenged by the intrinsic
limitation of polymeric porous materials that do not allow for the
easy penetration of waterborne moieties or precursors. To overcome
this restriction, we present a robust and straightforward method of
employing a dipping-based surface modification with polydopamine (PDA)
inside the IO structures, and demonstrate their application to catalytic
membranes via synthetic incorporation of Ag nanoparticles. The PDA
coating offers simultaneous advantages of achieving the improved hydrophilicity
required for the facilitated infiltration of aqueous precursors and
successful creation of nucleation sites for a reduction of growth
of the Ag nanoparticles. The resulting Ag nanoparticle-incorporated
IO structures are utilized as catalytic membranes for the reduction
of 4-nitrophenol to its amino derivatives in the presence of NaBH<sub>4</sub>. Synergistically combined characteristics of high reactivity
of Ag nanoparticles along with a greatly enhanced internal surface
area of IO structures enable the implementation of remarkably improved
catalytic performance, exhibiting a good conversion efficiency greater
than 99% while minimizing loss in the membrane permeability
