Shape-Controlled Nanoparticles from a Low-Energy Nanoemulsion
Manon Rolland, Nghia P. Truong, Kostas Parkatzidis, Emily H. Pilkington, Alexandre L. Torzynski, Robert W. Style, Eric R. Dufresne, Athina Anastasaki
Abstract
-HPMA))) that dramatically lowers the interfacial tension between monomer droplets and water, we can easily produce nanoemulsions at room temperature by manual shaking for a few seconds. With the addition of a common ionic surfactant (SDS), these nanoscale droplets are robustly stabilized at both the formation and elevated temperatures. Upon polymerization, we produce well-defined block copolymers forming nanoparticles with a wide range of controlled morphologies, including spheres, worm balls, worms, and vesicles. Our nanoemulsion polymerization is robust and well-controlled even without stirring or external deoxygenation. This method significantly expands the toolbox and availability of nanoemulsions and their tailor-made polymeric nanomaterials.