Controllable synthesis of raspberry-like PS–SiO2 nanocomposite particles via Pickering emulsion polymerization. Issue 7 (22nd January 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Zhang, Xiaotian; Sun, Yangyi; Mao, Yijing; Chen, Kunlin; Cao, Zhihai; Qi, Dongming
• Is Part Of: RSC advances. Volume 8:Issue 7(2018)
• Page Start: 3910
• Page End: 3918
• Publication Date: 2018-01-22
• Subjects: Chemistry -- Periodicals; 540.5
• DOI: 10.1039/c7ra13086d
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2046-2069

Abstract

Abstract : Monodisperse and well-defined nanometer-sized organic–inorganic raspberry-like PS–SiO2 NCPs synthesized via Pickering emulsion polymerization using pre-hydrolysized MPS as directly auxiliary comonomer. Abstract : This paper presents a simple and controllable method for the synthesis of monodisperse nanometer-sized organic–inorganic raspberry-like polystyrene (PS)–SiO2 nanocomposite particles (NCPs) via Pickering emulsion polymerization, by simply using a silane coupling agent, 3-(trimethoxysilyl)propyl methacrylate (MPS), as an auxiliary monomer and controlling its hydrolysis/condensation processes and amount. In this method, when MPS was stirred in acidic water with styrene (St) for a period of time, and then a basic silica solution added, raspberry-like PS–SiO2 NCPs were directly obtained after the polymerization. The whole process needs neither surface treatment for the silica particles nor additional surfactants or stabilizers. We propose that a silica-stabilized Pickering emulsion is formed through Si–OH reaction between the hydrolysis/condensation products of MPS distributed on the St droplets surface and the silica particles.