Mesoporous Poly(divinylbenzene) Fibers Based On Crosslinked Nanoparticles

Abstract

AbstractPoly(divinylbenzene) (PDVB) nanofibers are synthesized by electrospinning dispersions of PDVB nanoparticles (diameter 40–90 nm) derived by miniemulsion polymerization. Interparticle crosslinking is achieved by addition of a radical starter after electrospinning endowing the fibers with high solvent‐stability. The fibers exhibit a Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET) surface area in the range of ≈30–70 m2 g−1 due to internal mesoporosity, which originates from the interparticle space. Spinning parameters like the concentrations of spin polymer and nanoparticles, as well as the nanoparticle diameter, are systematically varied to investigate the influence of these parameters on the mesopore structure. The fiber morphology is studied by scanning electron microscopy and the mesopore size, volume, and BET surface area are determined by nitrogen physisorption measurements. The findings indicate that the pore size mainly depends on the PDVB nanoparticle diameter. As a main finding, the fiber diameter can be adjusted by the concentration of spin polymer or nanoparticles without changing the mesopore diameter. Chlorine‐functionalized fibers are synthesized by electrospinning of poly(divinylbenzene‐co‐4‐vinylbenzyl chloride) nanoparticle dispersions. Chlorine groups are further used for the covalent immobilization of an organocatalyst (2,2,6,6‐tetramethylpiperidine‐1‐oxyl (TEMPO)).