Facile Fabrication of Polymer Nanocapsules with Cross-Linked Organic–Inorganic Hybrid Walls

A facile method was developed for the fabrication of polymer nanocapsules with organic–inorganic hybrid walls and controllable morphologies from a cross-linkable polymer, poly[3-(trimethoxysilyl)propyl methacrylate] (PTMSPMA). With the combination of emulsion, hydrolysis, and condensation reaction as well as the internal phase separation, cross-linked PTMSPMA nanocapsules with classic hollow structures, collapsed hollow structures with Kippah, and multi-fold morphologies could be successfully obtained by simply mixing the toluene solution of PTMSPMA with water under vigorous stirring for 48 h at different temperatures. The hydrolysis and condensation of methoxysilyl groups resulted in the phase separation of PTMSPMA inside the toluene droplets and the migration of PTMSPMA to the interface of toluene and water. The cross-linking reaction of methoxysilyl groups further fixed the interfacial phase of PTMSPMA, leading the formation of PTMSPMA nanocapsules with robust cross-linked organic–inorganic hybrid wall...