Double emulsion droplets as microreactors for synthesis of magnetic macroporous polymer beads

An easy method is presented to fabricate monodisperse magnetic macroporous polymer beads (MMPBs). Waterin- oil high internal phase emulsion (HIPE) is prepared by emulsifying aqueous iron ions solution in an oil phase containing monomers. The HIPE is introduced into a simple microfluidic device to fabricate monodisperse (water-in-oil)-in-water double emulsion droplets. The droplets serve as microreactors to synthesize Fe3O4 nanoparticles and are on-line polymerized to form MMPBs. The prepared MMPBs display uniform size, interconnected porous structure, superparamagnetic behavior and uniform distribution of Fe3O4 in polymer matrix. The MMPBs are characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), vibrating sample magnetometry (VSM). We believe that this method is a universal technique in preparing macroporous nanocomposite beads.