Synthesis of Sulfonic Groups Functionalized Monodisperse Polystyrene Microspheres via Seeded Polymerization

Sulfonated polystyrene (PS) microspheres were successfully prepared by a process involving: first preparation of monodisperse PS seeds via dispersion polymerization, and then chemical modification of PS seeds through seeded dispersion polymerization using 4-styrenesulfonic acid sodium salt (NaSS) as sulfonation monomers. As demonstrated by scanning electronic microscopy (SEM) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), sulfonated PS microspheres with well monodispersity were achieved, and the optimal molar ratio of NaSS to styrene (St) monomer is 1/3.