The aims of this thesis were twofold: A) To use high internal phase emulsion (HIPE) templated materials to produce a chromatographic stationary phase for the size separation of engendered nanoparticles (NPs). B) To produce well characterised lanthanide doped polymer NPs with a potential use as analytical standards.Initially, silica materials were prepared from oil-in-water HIPEs by a two stage acid/base catalysed sol gel process. As well as presenting the expected macroporosity typical of HIPE templated materials, it was also found that micro- and meso-porosity could be influenced by surfactant choice and reaction with iron (III) chloride or copper (I) chloride which had been included in the HIPE. However, the resulting silica materials were deemed inappropriate for the desired chromatography. Monolithic columns were prepared from HIPE templated polymers (polyHIPEs) and incorporated into a HPLC system. Poly(styrene-co-divinylbenzene) and poly(ethylene glycol dimethacrylate) polyHIPE columns were able to separate sub-micron polystyrene latexes, detected by UV absorption, and dysprosium doped polystyrene latex particles and gold nanoparticles detected by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS).Dysprosium, gadolinium and neodymium doped polystyrene NPs were prepared by micro-emulsion polymerisation. Particle size was controlled (over a 40 - 160 nm range) by tailoring of surfactant and initiator concentrations. Particles were characterised by dynamic light scattering, differential centrifugal sedimentation, transition electron microscopy and hydrodynamic chromatography (HDC)-ICP-MS. Also, particle surface change, lanthanide content and solids content were analysed. The latter two appear related to particle size.As far as the author is aware there are no cases of the use of polyHIPE columns size separation in the literature. Nor are there any cases of encapsulation of metals within polymer nanoparticles by micro-emulsion polymerisation reported.
Date of Award | 31 Dec 2013 |
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Original language | English |
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Awarding Institution | - The University of Manchester
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Supervisor | Peter Budd (Supervisor) |
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- PolyHIPEs
- Emulsions
- Lanthanide Doped Polymer Nanoparticles
- Chromatography
DEVELOPMENT OF POLYHIPE CHROMATOGRAPHY AND LANTHANIDE-DOPED LATEX PARTICLES FOR USE IN THE ANALYSIS OF ENGINEERED NANOPARTICLES
Hughes, J. (Author). 31 Dec 2013
Student thesis: Phd