Microphase-separated, magnetic macroporous polymers with amphiphilic swelling from emulsion templating

PolyHIPEs are promising for various applications associated with liquid uptakes. PolyHIPEs from a reactive, monomeric block copolymer can exhibit amphiphilic swelling, but such swelling usually tends to disappear upon copolymerization...

Emulsion-templated porous polymers: drying condition-dependent properties

Emulsion-templated macroporous polymers show drying condition-dependent wetting properties, densities, and compressive properties.

Porous polycaprolactone and polycarbonate poly(urethane urea)s via emulsion templating: Structures, properties, cell growth

PolyHIPEs, macroporous polymers templated within high internal phase emulsions (HIPEs), emulsions with over 74% internal phase, are almost always crosslinked to prevent collapse during drying. Here, elastomeric poly(urethane urea) (PUU)...

Tailoring the morphology of poly(high internal phase emulsions) synthesized by using deep eutectic solvents

High internal phase emulsions (HIPEs) are among complex biphasic fluids that expand on the traditional emulsion compositions, for instance, for the preparation of macroporous polymers by emulsion templating. The use of deep eutectic solvents (DESs) as the nonaqueous internal phase of HIPEs allows expanding the conditions at which polymerizations are typically carried out in aqueous HIPEs. Herein, the properties of polystyrene macroporous polymers were studied by polymerizing DES-in-oil HIPEs using choline chloride-based DESs as the internal phase. The effect of DESs’ composition – with amide, alcohol, and carboxylic acid as hydrogen bond donors – and the homogenization method used for the HIPE preparation – vortexing versus high-speed homogenizer – was studied. The stability and droplet size of HIPE precursor, as well as the macroporous structure and the mechanical properties of the synthesized polyHIPEs, are discussed.

Dendritic Macrosurfactant Assembly for Physical Functionalization of HIPE-Templated Polymers

High-internal-phase emulsion-templated macroporous polymers (polyHIPEs) have attracted much interest, but their surface functionalization remains a primary concern. Thus, competitive surface functionalization via physical self-assembly of macrosurfactants was reviewed. Dendritic and diblock-copolymer macrosurfactants were tested, and the former appeared to be more topologically competitive in terms of solubility, viscosity, and versatility. In particular, hyperbranched polyethyleneimine (PEI) was transformed into dendritic PEI macrosurfactants through click-like N-alkylation with epoxy compounds. Free-standing PEI macrosurfactants were used as molecular nanocapsules for charge-selective guest encapsulation and robustly dictated the surface of a macroporous polymer through the HIPE technique, in which the macroporous polymer could act as a well-recoverable adsorbent. Metal nanoparticle-loaded PEI macrosurfactants could similarly lead to polyHIPE, whose surface was dictated by its catalytic component. Unlike conventional Pickering stabilizer, PEI macrosurfactant-based metal nanocomposite resulted in open-cellular polyHIPE, rendering the catalytic sites well accessible. The active amino groups on the polyHIPE could also be transformed into functional groups of aminopolycarboxylic acids, which could efficiently eliminate trace and heavy metal species in water.