Hybrid microspheres and percolated monoliths synthesized via Pickering emulsion
co-polymerization stabilized by in situ surface-modified silica nanoparticles
B. Fouconnier
, F. Lopez-Serrano, R. I. Puente Lee, J. E. Terrazas-Rodriguez, A. Roman-Guerrero, M. C. Barrera, J. Escobar
, F. Lopez-Serrano, R. I. Puente Lee, J. E. Terrazas-Rodriguez, A. Roman-Guerrero, M. C. Barrera, J. EscobarVol. 15., No.6., Pages 554-567, 2021
DOI: 10.3144/expresspolymlett.2021.47
DOI: 10.3144/expresspolymlett.2021.47
Corresponding author: B. Fouconnier 
GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT
ABSTRACT
The Pickering emulsion polymerization of styrene (St), divinylbenzene (DVB) as a crosslinking agent, and sodium 4-vinyl benzene sulfonate (VBS) used for in situ surface-modification of silica nanoparticles (SNps) was investigated. At 1.0 wt% DVB, amphiphilic SNps with hydrophobic patches were formed, further self-assembling into copolymer-SNps clusters occurred. Subsequently, these clusters grow by monomer swelling to finally lead to the formation of core-shell polymer microspheres. Unlike the hydrophilic patchy SNps, at 2.0 and 3.0 wt% DVB, surface-patterned SNps with higher effective hydrophobicity do not self-assemble in the water phase but rather lead to the formation of monoliths. The polymerization mechanisms related to the formation of polymer silica-coated microspheres hybrid-materials, or percolated monoliths with bi-continuous porosity, formed by interfacially jammed emulsion gel (bijels) templates, are discussed herein.
