Introduction of surface-modified Au-nanoparticles into the microflow-through polymerization of styrene

A microflow-through set-up consisting of three syringe pumps, a micromixer as well as a residence tube was used to introduce Au-nanoparticles with a hydrophobic surface into a emulsion polymerization of styrene. It was earlier shown, that this arrangement of a micromixer with a PTFE tube as residence unit is well suited for the emulsion polymerization process to obtain nanoparticles with diameters equal or smaller than 100 nm. Assemblies of Au-nanoparticles were observed after polymerization of a alkyl thiol-derived Au-nanoparticle containing styrene solution.