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 co-polymerization 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 tetrahydro-furan was used as the co-solvent,the surface area of the highly porous microspheres achieved higher than 400 m2.g-1.Solvothermal precipitation co-polymerization can be expected in scale-up fabrication of var-ious monodisperse functional microspheres free of any surfactant and additive.