Continuous-Microflow Synthesis and Morphological Characterization of Multiscale Composite Materials Based on Polymer Microparticles and Inorganic Nanoparticles

This paper presents a new route to the synthesis of uniform and size-controlled inorganic/organic composite microparticles by means of microreaction technology. Au-nanoparticles in the range of 3 to 14 nm are synthesized by reduction of tetrachloroauric acid, while ZnO-nanoparticles (200-2000 nm) are synthesized in a continuous-flow two-step process using microtube arrangements for microsegmented flow. Both inorganic nanoparticles have a wellcontrolled size and narrow size distribution. Upon surface modification, the nanoparticles are then mixed on one hand with an acrylate-based monomer and, on the other hand, with an aqueous solution of acrylamide. Both solutions were then emulsified into uniform core-shell droplets by means of a capillary-based microfluidic device. Droplet's shell was hardened through UV-induced polymerization, whereas the core led to a hydrogel upon thermal-induced polymerization. Core-shell polymer microparticles (200-300 mu m) with inorganic nanoparticles selectively incorporated into the core and the shell are thus obtained as proven by extensive morphological characterizations using electronic and optical microscopies.