Golf ball-like particles fabricated by nonsolvent/solvent-induced phase separation method

Area of Science:

• Polymer Chemistry
• Materials Science
• Nanotechnology

Background:

• Monodisperse polymer particles are essential building blocks in various applications.
• Creating complex surface morphologies on polymer particles remains a challenge.
• Controlled synthesis of functional polymer microstructures is highly desirable.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a simple and effective method for synthesizing monodisperse poly(styrene-co-acrylic acid) particles with a distinct "golf ball-like" surface.
• To investigate the key factors influencing the formation and morphology of the dimpled surface.
• To propose a mechanism for the formation of these unique particles.

Main Methods:

• Nonsolvent/solvent-induced phase separation using a mixture of butanol, n-heptane, and toluene.
• Utilizing poly(styrene-co-acrylic acid) as the polymer template.
• Controlling parameters such as polymer templates, dispersion medium, reaction time, and temperature.

Main Results:

• Successfully prepared monodisperse poly(styrene-co-acrylic acid) particles with a characteristic "golf ball-like" dimpled surface.
• Demonstrated that the dimple morphology is tunable by adjusting experimental conditions.
• Identified the aggregation of oil droplets on polymer sphere surfaces as the source of the dimples.

Conclusions:

• A straightforward and operable nonsolvent/solvent-induced phase separation method yields "golf ball-like" polymer particles.
• The morphology of the dimpled surface is controllable through various experimental parameters.
• A reverse Pickering emulsion model is proposed to explain the formation mechanism of these unique particles.