Facile Fabrication of Polymer Nanocapsules with Cross-Linked Organic−Inorganic Hybrid Walls

摘要

A facile method was developed for thenfabrication of polymer nanocapsules with organic−inorganicnhybrid walls and controllable morphologies from a crosslinkablenpolymer, poly[3-(trimethoxysilyl)propyl methacrylate]n(PTMSPMA). With the combination of emulsion,nhydrolysis, and condensation reaction as well as the internalnphase separation, cross-linked PTMSPMA nanocapsules withnclassic hollow structures, collapsed hollow structures withnKippah, and multi-fold morphologies could be successfullynobtained by simply mixing the toluene solution of PTMSPMAnwith water under vigorous stirring for 48 h at differentntemperatures. The hydrolysis and condensation of methoxysilyl groups resulted in the phase separation of PTMSPMA inside thentoluene droplets and the migration of PTMSPMA to the interface of toluene and water. The cross-linking reaction ofnmethoxysilyl groups further fixed the interfacial phase of PTMSPMA, leading the formation of PTMSPMA nanocapsules withnrobust cross-linked organic−inorganic hybrid walls. Such nanocapsules with robust cross-linking structures may find potentialnapplications for the encapsulations of many functional species.