title: SAXS Analysis of Shell Formation During Nanocapsule Synthesis via Inverse Miniemulsion Periphery RAFT Polymerization.
abstract: Currently available methods for synthesis of polymeric nanocapsules only offer limited control over the shell thickness, even though it is an important parameter for various applications. Furthermore, suitable methods to critically measure this parameter in a facile way are still nonexistent. Here, lab-scale small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) is utilized to in situ measure the evolution of shell thickness during nanocapsule synthesis via inverse miniemulsion periphery reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerization (IMEPP). The measured shell thickness is consistent with estimates from the commonly used transmission electron microscopy (TEM) technique. Moreover, the individual thicknesses of two concentric shells comprising different polymeric materials (the outer shell formed via IMEPP chain extension of the inner shell) can be determined, thus further demonstrating the versatility of this approach.
authors.affiliation: Centre for Advanced Macromolecular Design, School of Chemical Engineering The University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, 2052, Australia.
authors.forename: Robert H
authors.initials: RH
authors.lastname: Utama
authors.affiliation: Physikalische Chemie I, Universität Bayreuth, 95447 Bayreuth, Germany.
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Dulle
authors.affiliation: Physikalische Chemie I, Universität Bayreuth, 95447 Bayreuth, Germany.
authors.forename: Stephan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Förster
authors.affiliation: Centre for Advanced Macromolecular Design School of Chemistry, The University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, 2052, Australia.
authors.forename: Martina H
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Stenzel
authors.affiliation: Centre for Advanced Macromolecular Design, School of Chemical Engineering The University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, 2052, Australia.
authors.forename: Per B
authors.initials: PB
authors.lastname: Zetterlund
mesh_terms: D003432:Cross-Linking Reagents / Q000737:chemistry; D004655:Emulsions; D008689:Methacrylates / Q000737:chemistry*; D020366:Methylmethacrylate / Q000737:chemistry*; D046529:Microscopy, Electron, Transmission; D053769:Nanocapsules / Q000737:chemistry / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D010316:Particle Size; D058105:Polymerization; D053838:Scattering, Small Angle; D014961:X-Ray Diffraction
chemical_list: D003432:Cross-Linking Reagents; D004655:Emulsions; D008689:Methacrylates; D053769:Nanocapsules; D020366:Methylmethacrylate; C004919:ethylene dimethacrylate; C016284:butyl methacrylate
keywords: IMEPP; RAFT polymerization; inverse miniemulsion; nanocapsules; small-angle X-ray scattering