Microfluidic synthesis of polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane (POSS) based organic-inorganic hybrid microparticles
Author(s)
Advisor
Date
2019-10Publisher
Bilkent University
Language
English
Type
ThesisItem Usage Stats
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Abstract
Utilizing micro
uidic systems inevitably changes tools used in chemistry due
to advantages such as handling differential volume, controlled reaction environment,
enhanced mixing performance, less time required to complete reaction.
Hence micro
uidic reactors become more popular among microparticle synthesis
tools. This research work presents synthesis of organosilica nano-cage structures,
namely Polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane (POSS) particles, based on organicinorganic
hybrid microparticles by utilizing dispersion and emulsion polymerization
methods. Firstly, poly(M-POSS) microparticles are synthesized via dispersion
polymerization method by using continuous
ow microreactors, one of
which is operated on a hot plate and the other one has temperature controlled
dual zone with embedded electrodes. Synthesized microparticles in microreactors
are characterized in terms of morphology, thermal behavior and surface chemical
structure. Effects of different parameters such as monomer, initiator and stabilizer
amount are presented. Secondly, in a temperature controlled continuous
ow micro
uidic reactor with embedded thin film electrode, epoxy functional-
POSS microparticles have been synthesized via emulsion polymerization method.
Heater for the micro
uidic reactor is designed by COMSOL Multiphysics and
manufactured in cleanroom to achieve homogeneous temperature distribution.
Effects of
ow rate, temperature and concentration of monomers are presented.
In addition, same micro
uidic reactor without electrodes immersed in oil bath
and polymerization is observed and results are compared with the electrode integrated
reactor.
Keywords
MicrofluidicsOrganic-inorganic hybrid microparticles
Microparticle synthesis
Polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane (POSS)