Solvent-Free Synthesis of Microparticles on Superamphiphobic Surfaces

摘要

Polymer particles constitute a large part of synthetic materials. Multicomponent polymer-based microspheres find applications in drug delivery, protein isolation and analysis, photonics, and displays. Depending on the function, different materials, sizes, and structures are required, including microgels, core-shell, patchy, multicompartment, and Janus particles. Most well-known strategies for the synthesis of particles include dispersion, emulsion, and mini-emulsion polymerization. Microparticles are produced in solution or in a confinement formed of immiscible solvents and emulsifiers. Multicomponent, functional micropartic-les can also be syuthcsized by modern techniques, for example, by microfluidic, photo, or thermal polymerization, or by evaporation of water from a dispersion. All these methods rely on solvents or processing liquids and often involve the use of surfactants. For environmental reasons and to reduce energy consumption, it is desirable to develop strategies that reduce or completely avoid any type of solvent or emulsifier.