Preparation of core-shell polymeric nanocapsules containing liquid cores via redox interfacial-initiated microemulsion polymerization

Abstract In this work, polystyrene (PSt) nanocapsules were successfully prepared by one-stage redox Interfacial-initiated inversed micro-emulsion polymerization of styrene (St), the cumene hydroperoxide (CHPO) and tetraethylenepentamine (TEPA) as the redox initiation pairs. The water-soluble TEPA acted as the reducing component and the oil-soluble CHPO as the oxidant component of the redox initiation system. The primary radicals were produced mainly at the oil/water interface to initiate the polymerization of styrene (St). Core-shell polymeric PSt nanocapsules were obtained by one-stage polymerization via this method, which was supported by the techniques of transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM). The particle size and polydispersity index (PDI) of nanocapsules were determined by dynamic light scattering (DLS). The results demonstrated that interfacial-initiated inversed microemulsion polymerization to form core-shell nanocapsules containing liquid cores by one-stage is successful.