Functional monodisperse microspheres fabricated by solvothermal precipitation co-polymerization

doi:10.1016/j.cjche.2020.09.036

Abstract

Abstract: Simultaneous achievement in high solid content and high microsphere yield is deemed a challenge in the fabrication of monodisperse microspheres by precipitation polymerization. We herein demonstrate that micro-sized monodisperse poly(methacrylic monomer-divinylbenzene) microspheres containing epoxy, lauyl, carboxyl and hydroxyl functions can be fabricated by solvothermal precipitation co-polymerization at 20% (mass) monomer loading with over 94% microsphere yield. The morphology and porosity of the obtained particles can be readily tuned by cosolvent-acetonitrile binary solvents. Addition of a small amount of cosolvent that has similar solubility parameter to that of the functional monomer can significantly improve the monodispersity of the obtained microspheres. When tetrahydrofuran was used as the co-solvent, the surface area of the highly porous microspheres achieved higher than 400 m²·g^-1. Solvothermal precipitation co-polymerization can be expected in scale-up fabrication of various monodisperse functional microspheres free of any surfactant and additive.

Key words: Monodisperse microsphere, Solvothermal, Methacrylic monomer, Precipitation polymerization, Core-shell structure

摘要： Simultaneous achievement in high solid content and high microsphere yield is deemed a challenge in the fabrication of monodisperse microspheres by precipitation polymerization. We herein demonstrate that micro-sized monodisperse poly(methacrylic monomer-divinylbenzene) microspheres containing epoxy, lauyl, carboxyl and hydroxyl functions can be fabricated by solvothermal precipitation co-polymerization at 20% (mass) monomer loading with over 94% microsphere yield. The morphology and porosity of the obtained particles can be readily tuned by cosolvent-acetonitrile binary solvents. Addition of a small amount of cosolvent that has similar solubility parameter to that of the functional monomer can significantly improve the monodispersity of the obtained microspheres. When tetrahydrofuran was used as the co-solvent, the surface area of the highly porous microspheres achieved higher than 400 m²·g^-1. Solvothermal precipitation co-polymerization can be expected in scale-up fabrication of various monodisperse functional microspheres free of any surfactant and additive.

关键词: Monodisperse microsphere, Solvothermal, Methacrylic monomer, Precipitation polymerization, Core-shell structure

Fenghao Guo, Yuanyuan Ding, Yanyan Wang, Xiao Gao, Zhiyong Chen. Functional monodisperse microspheres fabricated by solvothermal precipitation co-polymerization[J]. Chinese Journal of Chemical Engineering, 2021, 34(6): 323-331.

Fenghao Guo, Yuanyuan Ding, Yanyan Wang, Xiao Gao, Zhiyong Chen. Functional monodisperse microspheres fabricated by solvothermal precipitation co-polymerization[J]. 中国化学工程学报, 2021, 34(6): 323-331.

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