Size-Controlled Formation of Polymer Janus Discs

A straightforward method is presented for the preparation of nano- to micrometer-sized Janus discs with controlled shape, size, and aspect ratio. The method relies on cross-linkable ABC triblock terpolymers and involves first the preparation of prolate ellipsoidal microparticles by combining Shirasu porous glass (SPG) membrane emulsification with evaporation-induced confinement assembly (EICA). By varying the pore diameter of the SPG membrane, we produce Janus discs with controlled size distributions centered around hundreds of nanometers to several microns. We further transferred the discs to water by mild sulfonation of PS to polystyrene sulfonic acid (PSS) and verified the Janus character by subsequent labelling with cationic nanoparticles. Finally, we show that the sulfonated Janus discs are amphiphilic and can be used as efficient colloidal stabilizers for oil-in-water (O/W) emulsions.

Automated summary

This study presents a straightforward method for preparing nano- to micrometer-sized Janus discs with controlled shape, size, and aspect ratio, using cross-linkable ABC triblock terpolymers and SPG membrane emulsification. The Janus discs can be transferred to water and used as efficient colloidal stabilizers for O/W emulsions, showing their amphiphilic properties.