Home > Publications database > Emulsion templating: Unexpected morphology of monodisperse macroporous polymers |
Journal Article | FZJ-2020-04752 |
; ;
2021
Elsevier
Amsterdam [u.a.]
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Please use a persistent id in citations: http://hdl.handle.net/2128/26289 doi:10.1016/j.jcis.2020.08.106
Abstract: Hypothesis: We synthesised monodisperse macroporous polymers via polymerisation of water-in-monomer droplet emulsions and obtained non-spherical pores with layered pore walls. We hypothesise that this morphology is caused by surfactant diffusion and phase separation during polymerisation.Experiments: We varied the surfactant mass fraction of the emulsions and polymerised the templates with a water-soluble initiator. From the resulting macroporous polymers we determined the shape of the pores and thickness of the layers via scanning election microscopy. The response of the monomer/surfactant mixture to polymerisation was studied by a ternary phase diagram that simulated polymerisation. Findings:The emergence of non-spherical pores with layered pore walls is indeed caused by surfactant diffusion and phase separation. During polymerisation the surfactant molecules diffuse either to the water/monomer interface or deeper into the continuous monomer phase. The first process results in non-spherical pores, while the second process generates layered pore walls.
Keyword(s): Polymers, Soft Nano Particles and Proteins (1st) ; Soft Condensed Matter (2nd)
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