Synthesis and property of polystyrene particle with smart surface by emulsion polymerization using “giant” surfactant

The colloidal particles with switchable surfaces (i.e. smart surfaces) have attracted great attention for numerous potential industrial applications. We report here a novel approach for the fabrication of polymeric particles with smart surfaces by emulsion polymerization using “giant” surfactant. Specifically, the “giant” surfactant was obtained by incorporating poly(4-vinylpyridine) chains onto the one bulb of snowman-shaped polystyrene particles, and then used as emulsifier for the emulsion polymerization at pH = 2.00. The nearly monodisperse waxberry-like polystyrene particles were prepared with dual-size roughness surfaces, and the particulate film exhibited reversibly pH-switchable superhydrophobic property due to the pH-sensitivity of P4VP chains and the surface topology. This property enabled the particles could be used to effectively sequester hazardous anions from the wastewater.