Asymmetrically Distributed Tween-80-Induced Edge-Preferential Polymerization of Benzoxazine toward Selective Fabrication of Donut-Shaped Polymer and Carbon Nanodiscs

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Disc-like nanoparticles are desirable for fundamental studies of self-assembly, liquid crystal phenomenon, and diffusion and rheology behavior. However, the realization of such energetically less favorable nanostructures, especially via facile liquid-phase synthesis chemistry, remains a great challenge. Herein, we report a novel process to synthesize donut-shaped polymer nanodiscs (DPNDs) with tunable thickness in aqueous solution, based primarily on the phase transition of stearic acid (SA) and subsequent edge-preferential polymerization of benzoxazine induced by Tween-80 (T-80). In this process, the spatial distribution difference of T-80 on SA crystals between the edge and the center played a crucial role in the shape evolution, specifically the edge formation of DPNDs. More importantly, porous carbon with perfectly inherited morphology could be obtained by a subsequent pyrolysis. In addition, micron-sized circular and rhombic polymer sheets and nanospheres have also been produced by simply modulating the molar ratio of SA/T-80. This research provides a new perspective toward the precise construction of 2D colloidal and porous carbon nanomaterials by means of solution chemistry and, more importantly, adds great potential for corresponding modeling studies and personalized applications.