The disclosure relates, in one aspect, to porous solid-state films with controlled pore structures obtained by laser perforation. A thin laser-perforated film can comprise a slab defining a plurality of pores distributed in a predetermined arrangement, the plurality of pores having a distribution of sizes bound by a predetermined magnitude. In an aspect, the plurality of pores are formed in the slab with a laser having a wavelength less than about 400 nm and the slab has a transmission of the laser light of equal to or less than about 70% measured at a thickness of the slab of 100 micrometer or less.