Preparation of Hybrid Microspheres with Homogeneously Dispersed Nanosilica Using In-situ Sol-Gel Reaction inside a Polystyrene Matrix

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Hybrid polymer microspheres with uniformly dispersed nanosilica, were synthesized using an in–situ sol-gel reaction of tetraethoxysilane among low-density cross-linked polystyrene microspheres. FT–IR measurements and SEM observations indicated that silica nanoparticles smaller than 100 nm were formed inside the polymer matrix, which resulted in a hydrophilic microsphere interior, but did not form a sequential network structure. Moreover, chemical modification of the nanosilica inside the hybrid microspheres could control the functions inside the hybrid particles. Hybrid polymer microspheres with uniformly dispersed nanosilica inside were synthesized by sol-gel reaction of tetraethoxy silane permeated in polystyrene core with low cross-linking density. Less than 100 nm silica nanoparticles were formed inside the polymer microspheres, which made the interior of microsphere hydrophilic, but did not connected to each other to form a sequential network structure.