Emulsion-cryogelation technique for fabricating a versatile toolbox of hierarchical polymeric monolith and its
1Beijing National Laboratory of Molecular Sciences, Key Laboratory of Analytical Chemistry for Living Biosystems, Institute of Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, No. 2 Zhongguancun Beiyijie, Beijing 100190, China; Graduate School, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 19A Yuquanlu, Beijing 100049, China; Department of Chemistry, Capital Normal University, No.105 Xisanhuan North Road, Beijing 100048, China.
Abstract:
A novel poly (glycidyl methacrylate-co-ethylene dimethacrylate) monolith has been fabricated via the environmental friendly cryogelation-emulsion technique. The polymerization process is assisted by self-assembly of typical tri-block copolymer Pluronic F127 at sub-zero temperature using ice crystal as template, which can avoid consumption of organic porogenic solvents and thermal unstability of emulsion system. The developed monolith possesses hierarchical networks, which is confirmed by nitrogen adsorption measurement, mercury intrusion porosimetry, scanning electron microscopy and permeability testing. Further, the effect of the amounts of Pluronic F127 on the microstructure has been investigated. Moreover, the prepared polymer monolith undergoes acidic hydrolysis of epoxy groups into hydroxyl groups on the surface and its liquid chromatographic performance is explored by separating model analytes. The results indicate that the unique porous polymer monolith with hierarchical networks could be prepared via an organic porogen-free approach and used for analysis of polar and nonpolar molecules, extending the application of cryogelation-emulsion technique and methacrylate-based monolith.
