Reversible addition‐fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) dispersion polymerization of benzyl methacrylate (BzMA) is used to prepare a series of near mono‐dispersed poly(2‐(dimethylamino)ethyl methacrylate)‐poly(benzyl methacrylate) (PDMA‐PBzMA) diblock copolymer nanoparticles in an ethanol–water binary mixture via polymerization‐induced self‐assembly. A relatively long PDMA (DP = 88) chain transfer agent is targeted to ensure that only spherical morphologies are obtained. High (>99%) BzMA monomer conversions can be achieved within 24 h when targeting degrees of polymerization (DP) of up to 1000. The resulting particles are analyzed using dynamic light scattering and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Particles with PBzMA DPs of 500 and 1000 are used as templates for deposition of silica particles. TEM images confirm that tetramethyl orthosilicate precursor is successfully converted into silica sols that are deposited on the surface of the spherical polymer nanoparticles. Thin film membranes are then prepared from these silicified spherical particles (hard spheres) as well as the initial spherical particles devoid of silica coating (soft spheres). These membranes are fully characterized using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), atomic force microscopy (AFM), and water filtration test.

A set of well-defined amphiphilic, semi-fluorinated di and triblock copolymers were synthesized via polymerization-induced self-assembly (PISA) under alcoholic dispersion polymerization conditions. This study investigates the influence of the length, nature and position of the solvophobic semi-fluorinated block. A poly(N,N-dimethylaminoethyl methacrylate) was used as the stabilizing block to prepare the di and tri block copolymer nano-objects via reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) controlled dispersion polymerization at 70 °C in ethanol. Benzylmethacrylate (BzMA) and semi-fluorinated methacrylates and acrylates with 7 (heptafluorobutyl methacrylate (HFBMA)), 13 (heneicosafluorododecyl methacrylate (HCFDDMA)) and 21 (tridecafluorooctyl acrylate (TDFOA)) fluorine atoms were used as monomers for the core-forming blocks. The RAFT polymerization of these semi-fluorinated monomers was monitored by SEC and 1H NMR. The evolution of the self-assembled morphologies was investigated by transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The results demonstrate that the order of the blocks and the number of fluorine atoms influence the microphase segregation of the core-forming blocks and the final morphology of the nano-objects.