Facile Synthesis of Nanocapsules and Hollow Nanoparticles Consisting of Fluorinated Polymer Shells by Interfacial RAFT Miniemulsion Polymerization

Nanocapsules made of a cross-linked poly(dodecafluoroheptyl acrylate) shell were successfully synthesized by interfacial RAFT miniemulsion polymerization. The well-defined hollow fluorinated polymer structures were obtained by the subsequent removal of the liquid core materials. The core/shell ratio could be easily tuned up to 1:1 by changing the conditions. In the cases of high core/shell ratio of 1:2 and 1:1, the nanocapsules were severely deformed, which was improved by increasing the cross-linker amount up to 30 wt.-%. It was concluded that the utility of the interfacial RAFT miniemulsion polymerization overcame the thermodynamic and kinetic barriers in a conventional miniemulsion polymerization.