Effect of solubilization of surfactant aggregates on pore structure in gigaporous polymeric particles

Gigaporous poly(styrene-divinylbenzene) microspheres with a pore size of about 500 nm were prepared by a surfactant reverse micelles swelling method. Large amount of reverse micelle aggregates formed in oil phase at high concentration of surfactant. The surfactant reverse micelles absorbed water into oil droplets and formed a bicontinuous water/surfactant/oil (W/S/O) emulsion. The aqueous channels became large pores after polymerization. Water absorption process was important to the porous structure of polymeric microspheres. The effect of different factors, such as surfactant nature, concentration, diluents, etc., on the structure of W/S/O emulsion and final porous structure were investigated.

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► We studied the formation mechanism of pores in gigaporous microspheres.
► Reverse micelles absorbed water into ST-DVB oil droplets and a bicontinuous emulsion came into being.
► The microstructure of the bicontinuous emulsion directly affected the morphology of polymeric microspheres.
► Macroporous particles with large and continuous pores were prepared after polymerization.