Functional monodisperse microspheres fabricated by solvothermal precipitation co-polymerization

Simultaneous achievement in high solid content and high microsphere yield is deemed a challenge in the fabrication of monodisperse microspheres by precipitation polymerization.We herein demonstrate that micro-sized monodisperse poly(methacrylic monomer-divinylbenzene)microspheres containing epoxy,lauyl,carboxyl and hydroxyl functions can be fabricated by solvothermal precipitation copolymerization at 20%(mass)monomer loading with over 94%microsphere yield.The morphology and porosity of the obtained particles can be readily tuned by cosolvent-acetonitrile binary solvents.Addition of a small amount of cosolvent that has similar solubility parameter to that of the functional monomer can significantly improve the monodispersity of the obtained microspheres.When tetrahydrofuran was used as the co-solvent,the surface area of the highly porous microspheres achieved higher than 400 m^(2)·g^(-1).Solvothermal precipitation co-polymerization can be expected in scale-up fabrication of various monodisperse functional microspheres free of any surfactant and additive.