Synthesis of walnut-like polystyrene particles using a giant surfactant and its superhydrophobic property

A novel giant surfactant was used for the synthesis of walnut-like polystyrene particles with dual-size roughness surfaces by a facile one-pot emulsion polymerization. Specifically, the giant surfactant was obtained by grafting monomethoxy poly(ethylene glycol) (MPEG) chains onto a poly(4-vinylbenzyl chloride) bulb of polystyrene dumbbell-shaped particles. Using the novel giant surfactant as an emulsifier, nearly monodisperse walnut-like polystyrene particles with tunable sizes were prepared by emulsion polymerization. After removal of the hydrophilic MPEG chains, the particulate films exhibited a superhydrophobic property with a static water contact angle as high as 151 degrees. This work indicates that emulsion polymerization with giant surfactants can be a facile approach for fabrication of walnut-like polymeric particles and superhydrophobic particulate films.