Synthesis and characterization of monodisperse porous polymer particles

Monodisperse porous polymer particles in the size range of 10 μm in diameter were prepared via seeded emulsion polymerization. Linear polymer (polystyrene seed) or a mixture of linear polymer and solvent or nonsolvent were used as inert diluents. The pore diameters of these porous polymer particles were on the order of 1000 Å with pore volumes up to 0.9 mL/g and specific surface areas up to 200 m²/g. The physical features of the porous polymer particles depended on the diluent type and the crosslinker content, as well as the molecular weight of polymer seed particles. By varying the molecular weight of the linear polymer, monodisperse porous polymer particles with different pore size distribution could be synthesized. Polymer seed with a low degree of crosslinking instead of linear polymer could also be used to prepare monodisperse porous polymer particles with smaller pore volume and pore size.     

Pore structural studies of monodisperse porous polymer particles

Monodisperse polystyrene latex particles with molecular weight on the order of 10⁶ were used as inert diluents for the preparation of monodisperse porous styrene-divinylbenzene copolymer particles via seeded emulsion polymerization techniques. Mercury porosimetry and nitrogen adsorption-desorption isotherms were used to assess pore structure and pore size distribution. Pore size distribution was very sensitive to the molecular weight of the polystyrene latex particles used as inert diluent. Qualitative evidence from the techniques used indicated that the monodisperse porous polymer particles were macroporous (average pore diameter > 500 Å) in nature. As the molecular weight of the linear polymer decreased, the porous structure of the polymer particles ranged in complexity across the spectrum of macro/mesopore structures. Scanning electron microscope results indicated the existence of voids between the microspheres and their agglomerates within the porous polymer particle, and nitrogen adsorption isotherms confirmed that the pores were due to interstices between these crosslinked microspheres and agglomerates.     

Synthesis of monodispersed molecularly imprinted polymer particles for high-performance liquid chromatographic separation of cholesterol using templating polymerization in porous silica gel bound with cholesterol molecules on its surface

Monodispersed molecularly imprinted polymer particles selective for cholesterol were prepared by the copolymerization of styrene and divinylbenzene in the presence of template silica gel particles (particle size: 5 μm; pore size: 10 nm) functionalized with cholesterol on the surface, followed by dissolution of the cholesterol-bonded silica gel with a NaOH aqueous solution. Transmission and scanning electron micrographs of the molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP) particles revealed good monodispersity and porous structure. The MIP particles were packed into a high performance liquid chromatographic column, and its recognition ability of cholesterol was evaluated using cholesterol, cholesterol esters and fatty acid methyl esters by comparison with the non-imprinted polymer (NIP) particles prepared from styrene and divinylbenzene without cholesterol. The MIP particles showed a high affinity for cholesterol and cholesterol esters (K(MIP)'/K(NIP)' > 5.7).     

Controllable porous polymer particles generated by electrospraying

In this paper, an electrospraying technique was applied to prepare polycaprolactone (PCL) polymer particles with a different microstructure. The PCL particles can be controlled to have a porous microstructure by tailoring the evaporation of solvents during the electrospraying process. The effect of various concentrations on the morphology and microstructure of PCL particles was investigated. The experiment has demonstrated the versatile capability of the electrohydrodynamic atomization process for preparing polymer PCL porous particles and fibers. The thermally induced and evaporation-induced phase separations are proposed as the main mechanisms for the porous microstructure formation. The results demonstrate that the electrospraying method is a simple, innovative and cost-effective method for preparing polymer particles with controllable microstructures.     

Construction by molecular dynamics modeling and simulations of the porous structures formed by dextran polymer chains attached on the surface of the pores of a base matrix: characterization of porous structures

Significant increases in the separation of bioactive molecules by using ion-exchange chromatography are realized by utilizing porous adsorbent particles in which the affinity group/ligand is linked to the base matrix of the porous particle via a polymeric extender. To study and understand the behavior of such systems, the M3B model is modified and used in molecular dynamics (MD) simulation studies to construct porous dextran layers on the surface of a base matrix, where the dextran polymer chains and the surface are covered by water. Two different porous polymer layers having 25 and 40 monomers per main polymer chain of dextran, respectively, are constructed, and their three-dimensional (3D) porous structures are characterized with respect to porosity, pore size distribution, and number of conducting pathways along the direction of net transport. It is found that the more desirable practical implications with respect to structural properties exhibited by the porous polymer layer having 40 monomers per main polymer chain, are mainly due to the higher flexibility of the polymer chains of this system, especially in the upper region of the porous structure. The characterization and analysis of the porous structures have suggested a useful definition for the physical meaning and implications of the pore connectivity of a real porous medium that is significantly different than the artificial physical meaning associated with the pore connectivity parameter employed in pore network models and whose physical limitations are discussed; furthermore, the methodology developed for the characterization of the three-dimensional structures of real porous media could be used to analyze the experimental data obtained from high-resolution noninvasive three-dimensional methods like high-resolution optical microscopy. The MD modeling and simulations methodology presented here could be used, considering that the type and size of affinity group/ligand as well as the size of the biomolecule to be adsorbed onto the affinity group/ligand are known, to construct different porous dextran layers by varying the length of the polymeric chain of dextran, the number of attachment points to the base matrix, the degree of side branching, and the number of main polymeric chains immobilized per unit surface area of base matrix. After the characterization of the porous structures of the different porous dextran layers is performed, then only a few promising structures would be selected for studying the immobilization of adsorption sites on the pore surfaces and the subsequent adsorption of the bioactive molecules onto the immobilized affinity groups/ligands.     

Copper supported on N-heterocyclic carbene-functionalized porous organic polymer for efficient oxidative carbonylation of methanol

A new heterogeneous catalyst for the oxidative carbonylation of methanol to dimethyl carbonate based on copper coordinated in N-heterocyclic carbene-functionalized porous organic polymer (Cu@PQP-NHC) was presented. The solid catalyst that featured relatively large surface area, hierarchical pore structure, and excellent swelling property, was prepared via a facile copolymerization reaction of tetra-vinylphosphonium salt and bis-vinylimidazolium salt, followed by successful immobilization of CuCl. Accordingly, the resulting Cu@PQP-NHC showed excellent catalytic performance for the oxidative carbonylation of methanol. A 10 mmol/l of Cu usage was sufficient for 9.3% conversion of methanol with a high TOF number of 57 h⁻¹. Importantly, the catalyst was easily recovered by simple centrifugation, and could be reused up to 10 consecutive recycles without obvious loss of its initial activity. Also, the solid catalyst showed negligible Cu leaching during the recycling, and 99% Cu species was still retained after reusing 10 times. The results in this study highlights the advantages of porous organic polymer supported NHC-Cu catalyst as a highly active and stable heterogeneous catalyst, providing a promising route for the synthesis of dimethyl carbonate.     

Crystallization of silver chloride in crazed porous polymers

During this study the formation and growth of silver chloride crystals in crazed porous polymeric matrixes of poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) and polypropylene (PP) were under investigation. The rate of formation and dispersity and the way AgCl particles aggregate in porous polymers were shown to be dependent on the effective volume porosity, pore dimension, and physical state of the polymer. Methods of the determination of diffusion and distribution constants for low-molecular substances in porous polymers were suggested, and a mechanism of silver chloride crystallization in porous medium was proposed.     

Effect of the porosity of PS–DVB-copolymers on ion chromatographic behavior in inverse size-exclusion and ion chromatography

Small and highly pressure-stable PS-DVB copolymers of different porosity had been prepared by a two-step swelling procedure which enabled variation of diluent composition, an important characteristic affecting the porosity. The polymers were characterized by inverse size-exclusion chromatography and scanning electron microscopy. Subsequent chloromethylation and amination resulted in anion exchangers suitable for ion chromatography.The pore volume and the pore-size distribution is substantially affected by the fraction of the solvens component in the diluent. It was apparent from scanning electron microscopy that surface structure and the size of the polymer particles was not affected by diluent composition. The functionalization process led to a decrease in pore volume. The pore-size distribution remained unchanged during functionalization, which can be explained in terms of partial closing of all pore sizes. The chromatographic efficiency of the functionalized polymers in ion chromatography was highly dependent on diluent composition and the extent of functionalization was determined by the total pore volume.The composition of the diluent is an excellent tool for optimization of polymers used for the synthesis of surface-functionalized anion exchangers.     

Functionalized polymer particles for chiral separation

The synthetic chiral polymer poly(N-acryloyl-S-phenylalanine ethyl ester) was immobilized by grafting to macroporous polymer particles of various composition and structure in a process involving copolymerization of the chiral monomer with residual double bonds present in the macroporous support particles. The support particles were prepared by suspension or micro- suspension polymerization of trimethylolpropane trimethacrylate (TRIM), divinylbenzene or by copolymerization of styrene and TRIM. The maximum amount of immobilized chiral polymer and the mechanical properties of the resulting materials varied with the swelling capacity of the parent support particles. Up to 60% (w/w) of chiral polymer could be immobilized to the pore system of highly cross-linked TRIM particles. The enantioselectivity of the chiral stationary phases increased with increase in the amount of immobilized chiral polymer. The results of studies of porosity and particle size variation during grafting form the basis for a discussion of the structure of the final materials.     

An observation of palladium membrane formation on a porous stainless steel substrate by electroless deposition

The membranes made of palladium and its alloys are used for the extraction of high quality hydrogen from a mixture of gases. Most of recent research is focused on the development technologies for depositing a durable ultra-thin palladium membrane on a porous substrate in order to assure a good mechanical support and maximize the flux of hydrogen permeation. The formation of a palladium membrane deposited on a porous stainless steel substrate by an electroless process is recorded and described in this paper. The palladium deposition progress around the pore area at the surface of the substrate in the initial stages is illustrated. A bridge model is presented to describe the membrane formation around the pore area of the substrate. This model, together with the micrographs showing the deposition progress on the pore areas, will lead to the control of the deposition process for a membrane fabrication as well as the design and modification of a substrate.     

Influence of diluent composition on the porous structure of methacrylate copolymers

The porous structure of copolymers obtained by suspension polymerization has been investigated. Three different copolymers were synthesized—styrene‐divinylbenzene, ethylene glycol dimethacrylate‐divinylbenzene, and 1,4‐phenylene dimethacrylate‐divinylbenzene. All the copolymers were porous. As a pore‐forming diluent, the mixture of toluene (good solvent) and n‐dodecane (nonsolvent) was used. The influence of the composition of two‐component diluent on the porous structure of the copolymers has been examined. Surface areas, pore volumes, pore size distributions, skeletal and apparent densities, and swellability coefficients were determined for the copolymers obtained in the presence of 0, 15, 50, 85, and 100% (v/v) toluene in the mixture with n‐dodecane. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 40: 3079–3085, 2002     

Chemically induced phase separation in the preparation of porous epoxy monolith

A methodology for preparing porous epoxy monolith via chemically induced phase separation was proposed. The starting system was a mixture of an epoxy precursor, diglycidyl ether of bisphenol‐A (DGEBA), a curing agent, 4,4′‐diaminodiphenylmethane (DDM), and a thermoplastic polymer, polypropylene carbonate (PPC). As DGEBA was cured with DDM, the system became phase‐separated having PPC particles dispersed in epoxy matrix. After PPC particles were removed by thermal degradation, a porous structure was obtained. The phase separation mechanism was determined by the initial composition and illustrated by a pseudophase diagram. The pore size increased with increasing the concentration of PPC and raising the curing temperature. The intermediate and final morphologies of the system were studied using optical and scanning electron microscopy, respectively. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys, 2010     

Cagelike polymer microspheres with hollow core/porous shell structures

Submicron‐scaled cagelike polymer microspheres with hollow core/porous shell were synthesized by self‐assembling of sulfonated polystyrene (PS) latex particles at monomer droplets interface. The swelling of the PS latex particles by the oil phase provided a driving force to develop the hollow core. The latex particles also served as porogen that would disengage automatically during polymerization. Influential factors that control the morphology of the microspheres, including the reserving time of emulsions, polymerization rate, and the Hildebrand solubility parameter and polarity of the oil phase, were studied. A variety of monomers were polymerized into microspheres with hollow core/porous shell structure and microspheres with different diameters and pore sizes were obtained. The polymer microspheres were characterized by scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, optical microscopy, and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 45: 933–941, 2007     

Nanogels based on poly(vinyl acetate) for the preparation of patterned porous films

The use of poly(vinyl acetate) (PVAc) nanogels for the fabrication of patterned porous surfaces is described. These nanogels were synthesized by controlled radical cross-linking copolymerization (CRCC) involving a xanthate-mediated reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) mechanism. This synthesis methodology allowed for the preparation of nanogels based on PVAc with a controlled constitutive chain length and average numbers of chains and cross-links. Solutions of these branched polymers were prepared in THF with a fixed amount of water and spin coated onto a surface of graphite. The surface porosity of corresponding films was observed by atomic force microscopy (AFM). Compared with linear PVAc homologues with a degree of polymerization (DP) sufficiently high to favor the formation of porous structures (DP = 50), a sharper and better defined porosity was observed with nanogels, the constitutive chains of which had the same DP. For nanogels differing only in their cross-link density, the pores were smaller and better defined in the case of the higher cross-link density, suggesting an enhanced stabilization of the water droplets during film formation. To explain these observations, it is postulated that PVAc nanogels can behave as compact particles providing steric stabilization of water droplets, which is referred to as a Pickering effect. The coalescence of water droplets would be better prevented as the cross-link density of the nanogels increases, resulting in a smaller size pore.     

Asymmetric porous emulsion film

The formation mechanism of an “asymmetric” porous structure for the film cast from ethyl acrylate-methyl methacrylate copolymer emulsion prepared by emulsifire-free emulsion polymerization was investigated. The formation of this structure was affected by the emulsion stability which was varied by the postaddition of sodium sulfate or sodium dodecyl benzene sulfonate. It is concluded that it is derived from the production of porous skin film at the emulsion-air interface and the precipitation of flocculated particles at the bottom of emulsion during drying process.     

Synthesis and characterization of nanostructural polymer-silica composite: positron annihilation lifetime spectroscopy study

The swelling of poly(TRIM) spherical particles in TEOS is assessed as a potential way for obtaining polymer-silica nanocomposite materials. Silica deposition was achieved by simply stirring of swollen polymer particles in acidic hydrochloric-water solution. This procedure leads to spherical composite particles with dispersed silica gel within the polymer matrix. The resulting material exhibits the same morphology as the initial polymer. Nanocomposite particles are silica rich (about 17 wt.%). Characterization of the nanocomposites was performed using scanning electron microscopy, FT-IR spectroscopy, (29)Si CP MAS NMR spectroscopy and thermogravimetry. Moreover, the use of positron annihilation lifetime spectroscopy PALS to characterize the structural properties of the nanocomposites is presented. This technique gave more realistic pieces of information about the pore structure of the investigated samples in contrast to nitrogen adsorption studies.     

Influence of vacuum on the formation of porous polymer films via water droplets templating

We report on the formation of ordered arrays of micron-sized holes on the surface of polymer films cast from volatile solvents in the presence of humidity in vacuum. A lower pressure in a vacuum chamber can accelerate the evaporation of solvent in the same way as the accelerating action of the air flowing across the solvent surface and results in the formation of porous films via the “breath figure” templating method. This vacuum technique has a good reproductiveness for the fabrication of the well-ordered porous films in a large area. It is very controllable to prepare the porous films in a vacuum chamber via controlling the vacuum level. The pore sizes can be easily tuned from 5.6 to 17.1 μm by changing the vacuum level. The mechanism for the formation of the porous films in vacuum was also discussed. The polymer films with ordered porous structure and tunable pore sizes have potential applications in many areas such as microarrays and as scaffolds for tissue engineering. Electronic supplementary material  The online version of this article (doi:) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.     

二乙烯苯交联大孔聚甲基丙烯酸羟乙酯的合成及其结构性能的研究

选用反应性单体甲基丙烯酸羟乙酯（ＨＥＭＡ），以二乙烯苯（ＤＶＢ）作为交联剂。在致孔剂甲苯和环己烷存在下，用经典悬浮聚合的方法制得了一系列的大孔共聚物。通过测定树脂的孔结构性能及化学组成，讨论了不同交联剂用量和配比对共聚物结构的影响。     

Rapid and controlled deswelling of porous poly(N‐isopropylacrylamide) hydrogels prepared by the templating of interpenetrated nanoporous silica particles

Free radical polymerization of N‐isopropylacrylamide (NIPAAm) and crosslinker solutions, which were fulfilled in silica particles with an interpenetrated and nanometer‐sized porous structure (a diameter of 3 mm and mean pore sizes of 15, 30, and 50 nm), fabricated hybrids of organic hydrogels and inorganic silica. Differential scanning calorimetric analyses of the hybrids revealed that silica components affected the thermoresponsive properties of polyNIPAAm hydrogels. Porous polyNIPAAm hydrogels were prepared by the subsequent acid treatment of the hybrids to remove silica. Transmission Fourier transformed infrared spectra indicated the selective extraction of silica. Scanning electron microscopic observation of the hydrogels confirmed the porous structure. The deswelling rate of porous hydrogels was 7 times larger than that of conventional hydrogels and increased with increasing the pore size of silica used. However, the swelling was not affected by the pore formation. The thermoresponsiveness of porous polyNIPAAm hydrogels could be regulated by the pore size. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 40: 3542–3547, 2002     

Towards porous polymer monoliths for the efficient, retention-independent performance in the isocratic separation of small molecules by means of nano-liquid chromatography

We have investigated the free-radical copolymerization dynamics of styrene and divinylbenzene in the presence of micro- and macro-porogenic diluents in 100 μm I.D. sized molds under conditions of slow thermal initiation leading to (macro)porous poly(styrene-co-divinylbenzene) monolithic scaffolds. These specifically designed experiments allowed the quantitative determination of monomer specific conversion against polymerization time to derive the porous polymer scaffold composition at each desirable copolymerization stage after phase separation. This was carried out over a time scale of 3h up to 48 h polymerization time, enabling the efficient and repeatable termination of the polymerization reactions. In parallel, the porous and hydrodynamic properties of the derived monolithic columns were thoroughly studied in isocratic nano-LC mode for the reversed-phase separation of a homologous series of small retained molecules. At the optimized initiator concentration, polymerization temperature and time, the macroporous poly(styrene-co-divinylbenzene) monoliths show a permanent mesoporous pore space, which was readily observable by electron microscopy and indicated by nitrogen adsorption experiments. Under these conditions, we consistently find a polymer scaffold composition which suggests a high degree of cross-linking and thus minimum amount of gel porosity. These columns reveal a retention-insensitive plate height in the separation of small retained molecules which only slightly decreases at increased linear mobile phase velocity. As the polymerization progresses, a build-up of less-densely cross-linked material occurs, which is directly reflected in the observed consistent increase in retention and plate heights. This leads to a significant deterioration in overall isocratic separation performance. The decrease in performance is ascribed in particular to the increased mass transfer resistance governing the monoliths' performance over the whole linear chromatographic flow velocity range at polymerization times significantly higher than that of phase separation. The performance of the optimized monoliths only becomes limited by fluid dispersion due to the poorly structured macroporous pore space.