One-pot synthesis of organic-inorganic hybrid hollow latex particles via Pickering and seeded emulsion polymerizations

Hybrid hollow latex (HL) particles possessing poly(styrene-co-acrylic acid) (P(St/AA)) as the inner shell, poly(divinyl benzene) (PDVB) as the outer shell, and silica nanoparticles (SiNPs) as the stabilizer were conveniently prepared via the combined Pickering and seeded emulsion polymerizations. P(St/AA) particles (435 nm) were used as seeds, DVB as a swollen and crosslink monomer, 2,2′-azobis(2-methylpropionamidine) dihydrochloride as initiator, and SiNPs as Pickering stabilizer. Without core removal, solvent evaporation, and surface modification steps, the spherical, monodisperse, and non-collapsed HL-SiNPs particles (722 nm) with double shell polymer layer and a large void cavity (400 nm) were obtained. The presence of large cavity and double shell may enable these hybrid HL-SiNPs particles to be used as lightweight filler and/or white pigment in coatings.