Abstract: N-isopropylacrylamide (NIPAM) and methacrylic acid (MAA) copolymer microspheres with various compositions were prepared by inverse suspension polymerization technique. The microgels thus prepared were employed as templates for the deposition of MS (M=Cu, Cd or Zn). In this way, a number of MS (M=Cu, Cd or Zn)-P(NIPAM-co-MAA) composite microspheres with different surface morphologies were prepared successfully. The effects of surfactants and the composition of the microgels upon the surface morphologies of the composite microspheres were studied in detail. It was demonstrated that the structures of the surfactants and the compositions of the microgels employed in the preparation have a great effect upon the surface morphologies of the composite microspheres. As for the model systems, the surface structures of the composite microspheres tend to be coarse with the structures of the surfactants becoming complex, or with their HLB (hydrophile-lipophile balance) values decreasing (Span-20, Span-80 and Span-85). Even so, the surface structures of the composite microspheres prepared in the presence of Span-85 are still highly ordered. It was also demonstrated that more fine surface structures were formed with increasing the MAA content in the template microgels. Thus, it may be concluded that the surface structures of the composite microspheres can be tailored to a certain extent by simply varying the types of surfactants, and changing the composition of monomer units in the template microgels.

Key words: Microgel, Surfactant, Template, Sulfide, Morphology