Precise Synthesis of Polymer Particles Spanning from Anisotropic Janus Particles to Heterogeneous Nanoporous Particles

Precise synthesis of polymer particles with topology and surface chemistry spanning from isotropy to anisotropy is critically needed for the fundamental research and industrial production. Herein, we report a seed wettability-manipulated emulsion interfacial polymerization to precisely synthesize polymer particles spanning from anisotropic Janus particles to spherical heterogeneous nano porous particles. The variation of seed wettability from hydrophobicity to hydrophilicity allows a topological transition of obtained polymer particles from anisotropic Janus particles to spherical heterogeneous nanoporous particles, along with the distribution of surface chemistry. This large-span evolution of topology and surface chemistry of obtained particles is due to the shifting of the initially polymerizable emulsion interface from oil-in-water (O/W) to water-in-oil-in-water (W/O/W) driven by osmotic pressure. This seed wettability-manipulated emulsion interfacial polymerization is applicable to a variety of hydrophobic/hydrophilic monomer pairs, allowing flexible fabrication of diverse Janus particles and heterogeneous nanoporous particles.