Functional monodisperse microspheres fabricated by solvothermal precipitation co-polymerization

Simultaneous achievement in high solid content and high microsphere yield is deemed a challenge in the fabrication of monodisperse microspheres by precipitation polymerization. We herein demonstrate that micro-sized monodisperse poly(methacrylic monomer-divinylbenzene) microspheres containing epoxy, lauyl, carboxyl and hydroxyl functions can be fabricated by solvothermal precipitation co-polymerization at 20% (mass) monomer loading with over 94% microsphere yield. The morphology and porosity of the obtained particles can be readily tuned by cosolvent-acetonitrile binary solvents. Addition of a small amount of cosolvent that has similar solubility parameter to that of the functional monomer can significantly improve the monodispersity of the obtained microspheres. When tetrahydrofuran was used as the co-solvent, the surface area of the highly porous microspheres achieved higher than 400 m(2).g(-1). Solvothermal precipitation co-polymerization can be expected in scale-up fabrication of various monodisperse functional microspheres free of any surfactant and additive. (C) 2020 The Chemical Industry and Engineering Society of China, and Chemical Industry Press Co., Ltd. All rights reserved.

Automated summary

This study demonstrates the successful fabrication of monodisperse micrometer-sized poly(methacrylic monomer-divinylbenzene) microspheres containing various functional groups with a yield of over 94% through solvothermal precipitation co-polymerization. The morphology and porosity of the microspheres can be easily tuned by using different binary solvents. The addition of a cosolvent with similar solubility parameters to the functional monomer significantly improves the monodispersity, with tetrahydrofuran achieving a high surface area of over 400 m(2).g(-1).