Synthesis of polystyrene/polythiophene core/shell nanoparticles by dual initiation

Synthesis of Solution-Stable PEDOT-Coated Sulfonated Polystyrene Copolymer PEDOT:P(SS-co-St) Particles for All-Organic NIR-Shielding Films

We prepared poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) (PEDOT)-coated sulfonated polystyrene copolymer particles as efficient heat-shielding agents, which showed strong near-infrared (NIR) absorption, with high solid contents and good solution stability. The poly(styrene sulfonate-co-styrene) (P(SS-co-St)) copolymers were successfully synthesized via radical solution polymerization, and PEDOT-coated P(SS-co-St) (PEDOT:P(SS-co-St)) was synthesized via Fe+-catalyzed oxidative polymerization. PEDOT:P(SS-co-St) was characterized by nuclear magnetic resonance and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopies. The particle size and morphology of PEDOT:P(SS-co-St) were examined using transmission electron microscopy, dynamic light scattering, and zeta potential measurements. The maximum NIR-shielding efficiency of the film was 92.0% with 40% transmittance. The high solution stability of PEDOT:P(SS-co-St) make it an ideal candidate for heat-insulating materials that find application in semi-transparent heat-insulator-coated windows.

Electronically Stabilized Copoly(Styrene-Acrylic Acid) Submicrocapsules Prepared by Miniemulsion Copolymerization

This work reports the preparation and characterization of poly(styrene-acrylic acid) (St/AA) submicrocapsules by using the miniemulsion copolymerization method. AA was introduced to miniemulsion polymerization of St to increase the zeta potential and the resulting electrostatic stability of St/AA submicrocapsules. Phytoncide oil was adopted as the core model material. Miniemulsion copolymerization of St and AA was conducted at a fixed monomer concentration (0.172 mol) with a varying monomer feed ratio [AA]/[St] (0.2, 0.25, 0.33, 0.5, and 1.0). Concentrations of initiator (azobisisobutyronitrile; 1.0 × 10-3, 2.0 × 10-3, 3.0 × 10-3, and 4.0 × 10-3 mol/mol of monomer) and surfactant (sodium dodecyl sulfate; 0.6 × 10-3, 1.0 × 10-3, and 1.4 × 10-3 mol) were also controlled to optimize the miniemulsion copolymerization of St and AA. Dynamic light scattering and microscopic analyses confirmed the optimum condition of miniemulsion copolymerization of St and AA. Long-term colloidal stability of aqueous St/AA submicrocapsule suspension was evaluated by using TurbiscanTM Lab. In this work, the optimum condition for miniemulsion copolymerization of St and AA was determined ([AA]/[St] = 0.33; [SDS] = 1.0 × 10-3 mol; [AIBN] = 2.0 × 10-3 mol/mol of monomer). St/AA submicrocapsules prepared at the optimum condition (392.6 nm and -55.2 mV of mean particle size and zeta potential, respectively) showed almost no variations in backscattering intensity (stable colloids without aggregation).

One-pot synthesis of grafted brush copolymers via a chain-growth radical/oxidative dual polymerization system

Grafted brush copolymers via one-step metal-catalyzed chain-growth radical/oxidative dual polymerization.

Synthesis of Sponge-Like Material for the Extraction of Fluoroquinolones in Milk

The new sponge material was prepared by the copolymerization of polystyrene and methacrylic acid. The polystyrene seed was prepared by two-step seed swelling polymerization. Scanning electron microscopy images showed that the sponge material were clumps with porous morphologies. The adsorption behaviour of the sponge material was analysed by detecting pefloxacin and enfloxacin in milk samples. Under the optimized conditions, good linearity was obtained in the range 0.05-10.0 μg g−1, with a correlation coefficient (r2) of ≥ 0.9991. The recoveries at three spiking levels ranged from 85.6 to 106.9% with relative standard deviations (RSDs) of ≤6.6%. The sponge material could be applied to the rapid screening of Pefloxacin and enfloxacin in complicated milk-product matrices.

Preparation of Fe₃O₄-Embedded Poly(styrene)/Poly(thiophene) Core/Shell Nanoparticles and Their Hydrogel Patterns for Sensor Applications

This research describes the preparation and sensor applications of multifunctional monodisperse, Fe₃O₄ nanoparticles-embedded poly(styrene)/poly(thiophene) (Fe₃O₄-PSt/PTh), core/shell nanoparticles. Monodisperse Fe₃O₄-PSt/PTh nanoparticles were prepared by free-radical combination (mini-emulsion/emulsion) polymerization for Fe₃O₄-PSt core and oxidative seeded emulsion polymerization for PTh shell in the presence of FeCl₃/H₂O₂ as a redox catalyst, respectively. For applicability of Fe₃O₄-PSt/PTh as sensors, Fe₃O₄-PSt/PTh-immobilized poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG)-based hydrogels were fabricated by photolithography. The hydrogel patterns showed a good sensing performance under different H₂O₂ concentrations. They also showed a quenching sensitivity of 1 µg/mL for the Pd²⁺ metal ion within 1 min. The hydrogel micropatterns not only provide a fast water uptake property but also suggest the feasibility of both H₂O₂ and Pd²⁺ detection.