Functional emulsion-templated macroporous polymers via controlled radical polymerization

Macroporous polymer monoliths with interconnected structures have attracted considerable interest in the fields of supported catalysis, chromatography, water purification, etc. A popular and straightforward synthesis approach for such open-cell polymers is based on the emulsion-templated polymerization. In this strategy, a major phase is dispersed in a minor continuous phase containing monomers, cross-linker, initiator and surfactant. The curing of the continuous phase followed by the removal of the dispersed phase leads to a monolith with voids interconnected by pores. Size and number of the latters are influenced by several parameters and especially by the nature of the surfactant. Consequently, we prepared by controlled radical polymerization a series of well-defined amphiphilic copolymers having different hydrophilic-lipophilic balance (HLB) and chain-ends, used it as stabilizers for the emulsion-templated polymerizations and demonstrated the crucial effect of the macromolecular features as well as the concentration on the foam morphology. Secondly, the physical and the chemical anchoring of the macromolecular surfactants at the surface of the pores were also considered for tuning the surface properties of the porous monoliths in one step. This strategy was also implemented with alkyne-terminated copolymers in order to decorate the surface of the cavities with “clickable” moieties which broadens the scope of functional macroporous polymers.