Anioniconionic mixed surfactants templates preparation of hollow polymer spheres via emulsion polymerization

摘要

We herein report a facile, convenient, and economical method to prepare hollow polymer spheres (HSs). By virtue of the phase transformation of nonionic surfactant at its cloud point, hollow spheres of polystyrene were prepared from vesicle templates formed by potassium oleate (KO) and alkyl-phenol polyoxyetbylene ((n) under bar) ether (n = 10, OP) at 70-80 degrees C. The morphologies of the HSs were characterized by field-emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The diameter of the HSs varies from 200 to 800 nm, and the shell thickness is uniformly c.a. 30-50 nm. The weight ratio of monomer/surfactant was as high as 7/1. The microstructure of the HSs was very stable and remained unchanged after drying or resuspension in water. The mechanism of the formation of HSs was explained on the theory of vesicles. Furthermore, the factors affecting the formation of the hollow structure were discussed. (c) 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.