Synthesis of hybrid colloidal particles: From snowman-like to raspberry-like morphologies

Colloidal particles with a controlled morphology combining both organic and inorganic parts were synthesized through a seeded emulsion polymerization process. Silica seed particles (from 100 to 400 nm in diameter) were first surface-modified by the adsorption of an oxyethylene-based macromonomer. Then, emulsion polymerization of styrene was carried out in presence of these particles, the formation of polystyrene nodules being highly favored at the silica surface in such conditions. While varying different experimental parameters, we have demonstrated that the ratio between the number of silica seeds and the number of growing nodules is a key parameter to control the morphology of the final hybrid nanoparticles.