Antagonistic effect of particles and surfactant on pore structure of macroporous materials based on high internal phase emulsion

Herein we present a systematic study of the antagonistic effect of nanoparticles and nonionic surfactant on pore structure of polymerized high internal phase emulsion (polyHIPE). Interconnected polyHIPE with small voids and large RSD in void size was obtained by surfactant-stabilized emulsion, while a close-cellar polyHIPE with large voids and low RSD in void size was prepared by particles-stabilized emulsion. This antagonistic effect was originated from the different stabilizing mechanism of two different stabilizers. Particles improve the stability of HIPE, and resultantly, endow the polyHIPE with excellent homogeneity; On contrary, surfactant lead to the formation of interconnected void. To obtain polyHIPE with interconnected homogeneous voids, an optimal ratio of surfactant/particle is necessary. The interconnectivity of polyHIPE was first investigated by the loading and releasing property of polyHIPE. (C) 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.