Fabrication of Partially Etched Polystyrene Nanoparticles

Non-spherical polymer nanoparticles (NPs) have gained attention in various fields, but their fabrication remains challenging. In this study, we present a simple protocol for synthesizing partially etched polystyrene (PS) nanoparticles through emulsion polymerization and chemical etching. By adjustin...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Polymers 2023-03, Vol.15 (7), p.1684
Main Authors: Jung, In Hwan, Lee, Jieun, Shin, Seung Soo, Kang, Youn-Jung, Seo, Tae Seok, Park, Bum Jun
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Chemical etching
Chemicals
Communication
Crosslinked polymers
Crosslinking
Emulsion polymerization
Emulsions
Environmental impact
Etching
Ethanol
Nanoparticles
Polymers
Polystyrene
Polystyrene resins
Shape control
Solvents
Surface active agents
Surfactants
Toxicity
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Summary:Non-spherical polymer nanoparticles (NPs) have gained attention in various fields, but their fabrication remains challenging. In this study, we present a simple protocol for synthesizing partially etched polystyrene (PS) nanoparticles through emulsion polymerization and chemical etching. By adjusting the degree of crosslinking, we selectively dissolve the weakly crosslinked portions of the particles, resulting in partially etched PS NPs with increased surface area. These partially etched NPs are evaluated for their use as solid surfactants in Pickering emulsions, where they demonstrate significantly improved emulsion stability compared to intact spherical NPs. Our results contribute to the field of nanoparticle shape control and provide insights into developing novel materials for various applications, particularly in the area of solid surfactant usage. Additionally, the importance of conducting cellular toxicity studies using these partially etched NPs for future work is also emphasized.
ISSN:2073-4360
2073-4360
DOI:10.3390/polym15071684