In the past decades, the synthesis
of asymmetric colloidal particles
has been of wide concern in material science because of their anisotropic
morphologies and unique properties. However, the synthesis of the
asymmetric particles with controllable anisotropy still remains a
big challenge because of the lack of effective methods. In this research,
polymerization-induced surface self-assembly (PISSA) approach was
demonstrated to be an effective method in the synthesis of colloidal
particles with tunable asymmetric core–shell structures. Reversible
addition–fragmentation chain transfer agents were covalently
anchored onto the surfaces of silica particles and coupled onto the
ends of methoxy polyethylene glycol (PEG) chains, leading to the synthesis
of CTA-modified silica particles (SiO2-CTA) and PEG macro-CTA
agents (PEG-CTA), respectively. PISSA process was conducted by using
SiO2-CTA and PEG-CTA as co-RAFT agents in RAFT dispersion
polymerization of styrene. In the RAFT polymerizations, polymer layers
with PS nodules were formed on the surfaces of SiO2 particles.
It was demonstrated that the formation of the nodules was related
to the production of the PS homopolymer in the PISSA process. In order
to control the asymmetric surface structures, RAFT dispersion polymerizations
of styrene with added “free” RAFT agents were performed,
and it turned out that the eccentrically positioned core–shell
structures with silica cores and polymer layers were prepared. The
colloidal particles experience morphology changes from surface nodules
to snowman-like structures and finally to asymmetric spherical structures,
depending on the monomer conversion and the feeding ratio of the co-RAFT
agents. Kinetics studies were performed to investigate the mechanism
of the formation of the asymmetric particles. After etching the silica
cores with HF solution, asymmetric hollow capsules were fabricated.