Surface-Initiated Free Radical Polymerization at the Liquid-Liquid Interface: A One-Step Approach for the Synthesis of Amphiphilic Janus Silica Particles

Amphiphilic Janus silica particles with hydrophobic polystyrene (PS) and hydrophilic poly(sodium methacrylate) (PSMA) brushes on two hemispheres were prepared at the liquid-liquid interface by surface-initiated polymerization. After introduction of free-radical initiator modified silica particles into a mixture of styrene and water, the silica particles were adsorbed at the liquid-liquid interface. One hemisphere of a silica particle is immersed in aqueous phase, and the other one is in styrene phase. After initiation at an elevated temperature, PSMA chains grow on one hemisphere and PS chains grow on the other one. Thermogravimetric analysis and infrared spectra results confirmed the grafting of polymer brushes on the surfaces. Transmission electron microscopy was used to characterize the asymmetric surface structure and aggregation structure of the Janus particles.