Preparation of monodisperse polystyrene nanoparticles with tunable sizes based on soap-free emulsion polymerization tech
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Preparation of monodisperse polystyrene nanoparticles with tunable sizes based on soap-free emulsion polymerization technology Yongjuan Zhu 1 & Guangfeng Wu 2 Received: 10 September 2020 / Revised: 2 October 2020 / Accepted: 2 October 2020 # Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature 2020
Abstract Herein, a one-step procedure for the preparation of monodispersed nanoparticles was achieved, with tunable size in range of around 30~300 nm based on soap-free emulsion polymerization using sodium p-styrene sulfonate as ionic comonomer. The polymerization reaction kinetics (i.e., monomer conversion, particle number, and particle size distribution) were investigated in detail. The experimental results indicated that the particle number increased in low ionic comonomer NaSS concentrations (< 10 wt%). The particle number reached maximum value at 10 wt% NaSS concentration, and minimum particle size nanoparticles (22.3 nm) were obtained. The particle size increased when NaSS concentration exceeded 10 wt%. The particle size distribution of latex gradually narrowed as the polymerization reaction was carried out due to the eversible particle coagulation process and competitive growth kinetics of a particle growth period. This method is conventional and practical for the production of nanoparticles. Keywords Emulsion polymerization . Soap-free . Particle number . Particle size distribution . Coagulation
Introduction To date, polystyrene nanoparticles, several dozens of nanometers in size, have been widely applied in the fields of drug delivery, biomedical separation, and template materials due to their high surface areas [1–4]. Generally, nanoparticles with sizes smaller than 100 nm can be prepared by microemulsion polymerization technology, in which a larger number of surfactants are required to induce particle nucleation by micellar nucleation mechanism [5–9]. This method of nanoparticle preparation involves several hours of polymerization time due to high polymerization rate. Additionally, numerous impurities are introduced into the ultimate polymer latex, which limits their application in the biomedical field. Thus, the generation of monodisperse nanoparticles with minor impurities remains a challenge.
* Guangfeng Wu [email protected] 1
School of Chemistry and Materials Engineering, Huizhou University, Guangdong Province, Huizhou 516007, China
2
Engineering Research Center of Synthetic Resin and Special Fiber, Ministry of Education, Changchun University of Technology, Changchun 130012, China
Soap-free emulsion polymerization technology is a very important method for the preparation of pure polymer particles due to the addition of little surfactants during the polymerization process. Recently, Kim et al. investigated the effect methanol addition has on particle size distribution of ultimate latex for soap-free emulsion polymerization of MMA, producing several hundred nanometer particles with narrow distribution [10]. Yamamoto et al. synthesized micron-sized polymeric particles by soap-fre
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