Preparation of Flattened Cross-Linked Hollow Particles by Suspension Polymerization in a Solid Dispersion Medium

One-step synthesis of cross-linked and hollow microporous organic-inorganic hybrid nanoreactors for selective redox reactions

Hollow microporous nanostructures (HMNs) are powerful platforms for multiple promising applications, including energy storage, drug/gene delivery, nanoreactors/catalysis, adsorption, and separation. Herein, we report a facile one-step method to synthesize highly cross-linked organic-inorganic hybrid poly(cyclotriphosphazene-co-4,4'-sulfonyldiphenol) (PZS) HMNs via a salt-induced liquid-liquid separation process. The size of inner cavities can be properly tuned by modulating the concentration of the NaOH solution. The regulation mechanism of the PZS HMNs was further confirmed by encapsulating water-dispersed Pt nanoclusters into the cavities. Interestingly, the resulting yolk-shell Pt@PZS serves as nanoreactors and exhibits excellent substrate selectivity and recyclability for the catalytic oxidation of 1,3,5-trimethylbenzene.

Preparation and application of magnetic superhydrophobic polydivinylbenzene nanofibers for oil adsorption in wastewater

Superhydrophobic materials have an excellent performance in oil adsorption. In this study, a novel magnetic polydivinylbenzene (PDVB) nanofiber was synthesized by the method of cation polymerization to adsorb oil from water. The magnetic PDVB was hollow nanofiber with Fe₃O₄ nanoparticles embedded in its structure. The synthesis condition was optimized that the ratio of divinylbenzene (DVB) to boron fluoride ethyl ether (BFEE) was 10:1 (v/v), and the Fe₃O₄ dosage was 0.175 g/g of DVB. The material showed an excellent oil adsorption performance in wastewater, and the oil concentration could be reduced from 2000 to 92.2 mg/L within 5 min. The magnetic PDVB had relatively high adsorption capacity (12 g/g) for oil, which could be attributed to its super hydrophobicity and one-dimensional nanostructure with high crosslinking degree. The isotherm study indicated that the magnetic PDVB adsorbed oil was an asymmetric or multilayer adsorption process. The material could be regenerated by simple squeeze and maintain its adsorption capacity after it has been used for 10 recycles. In real coking wastewater, the magnetic PDVB kept a good oil adsorption performance without the interference of various pollutants, indicating a wide prospect in practical use.

Hollow polymer particles: a review

Herein, the basic principles, such as the definitions, classifications, and properties, of hollow polymer particles (HPPs) are critically investigated.