Synthesis of Composite Polymer Particles by Seeded Emulsion Polymerization and Formation of Photonic Crystals Based on Them

Submicron composite particles with the core/shell structure are synthesized by the seeded emulsion polymerization of a mixture of various acrylates in the presence of a redox initiation system. The diameter, morphology, and surface structure of particles as well as their ability to self-assemble into 3D ordered thin-film structures are studied by scanning electron microscopy, FTIR spectroscopy, thermogravimetry, and dynamic light scattering. It is shown that under the used experimental conditions particles with a shell thickness of 10‒35 nm are synthesized. The effect of shell composition (in particular, the alkyl chain length of acrylate comonomers) on the morphology and structure of the surface layer of the obtained composite particles is traced.