Agglomeration-free core-shell polystyrene/silica particles preparation using an electrospray method and additive-free cationic polystyrene core

A new method for the preparation of agglomeration-free core-shell polystyrene (PS)/silica particles under an additive-free process was proposed. Different from other reports that typically used a liquid-phase synthesis method, we used an electrospray deposition method. While other methods use additive to bridge and paste the shell component on the core material, we preferred to use the effect of electrostatic charge phenomenon to make successful coating process. The particles with agglomeration-free and controllable size (from 80 to 300 nm) and morphology were successfully prepared. The control of particle size and morphology was also achieved by only changing the PS core size and the silica-to-PS ratio, respectively. The successful and unsuccessful condition was also described, which would be important for further developments (i.e. scale up process). We believe that this research would be useful for various coating applications.

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► Agglomeration-free core-shell polystyrene (PS)/silica particles.
► Additive-free process with electrostatic attraction phenomena.
► Positively charged PS and negatively charged silica nanoparticles.
► Controllable size and morphology.
► Electrospray deposition method.