Microphase-separated, magnetic macroporous polymers with amphiphilic swelling from emulsion templating

Abstract

PolyHIPEs are promising for various applications associated with liquid uptakes. PolyHIPEs from a reactive, monomeric block copolymer can exhibit amphiphilic swelling, but such swelling usually tends to disappear upon copolymerization and/or crosslinking. Herein, we report the fabrication of magnetic polyHIPEs with amphiphilic swelling from a reactive, monomeric stabilizer, acrylate-capped T1107 (T1107-TA), and acrylate-modified Fe₃O₄ nanoparticles (Fe₃O₄-A). The resulting magnetic polyHIPEs exhibit interconnected macroporous structures and microphase-separated, crystalline void walls, which are rare. The magnetic polyHIPEs could absorb a large amount of both water and organic solvents, showing that the amphiphilic swelling was preserved. The copolymerization of Fe₃O₄-A allows the polyHIPEs to be magnetic-responsive but does not affect amphiphilic swelling, providing a strategy for the preparation of polyHIPEs with amphiphilic swelling.