A hyper-cross-linked polystyrene with nano-pore structure

Chloromethylated polystyrene (CMPS) beads were prepared by suspension polymerization of vinylbenzyl chloride (VBC), divinylbenzene (DVB) and styrene (St) in the presence of porogen. The same feed volume ratio of DVB leads to similar cross-linking degree for all CMPS, but decreasing VBC content provided a progressively reduced content of chloromethyl groups in each CMPS. Hyper-cross-linked polystyrene (HCLPS) beads were obtained by post cross-linking reaction of CMPS in dichloroethane (DCE) containing Friedel–Crafts catalyst. The role of porogen and its influence on nano-pore structure of HCLPS were investigated. The results showed that different types of porogen had significant effect on the nano-pore structure of the final products, such as specific surface area, average pore size and total pore volume. Using the mixture of toluene and cyclohexanol as inner porogen can yield the highest specific surface area for HCLPS beads. Moreover, higher amount of VBC lead to greater specific surface area and total pore volume. It was therefore indicated that nano-pore structure of HCLPS can be controllably prepared via changing porogen type and VBC concentration. Finally, the unprecedented swelling capacity was found for the hyper-cross-linked species derived from different porogen types.