Polymeric raspberry-like particles via template-assisted polymerisation

Abstract

There is growing interest in the preparation of raspberry-like particles in the field of colloid science on account of their unique morphology and properties. In this study, we report polymeric raspberry-like particles with internal nanosized domains prepared using template-assisted polymerisation. In this method, polystyrene (PS) particles are employed as templates and ‘reaction-vessels’ inside which methyl methacrylate (MMA) and divinylbenzene (DVB) are absorbed and subsequently polymerised. PMMA raspberry-like particles are subsequently obtained after removal of the PS templates. The monodisperse PMMA raspberry-like particles can self-assemble into optical materials with high dispersion stability in salty aqueous environments.