Polymerization-Induced Self-Stabilized High Internal Phase Emulsions via Interfacial Poly(thioacetal) Formation

Abstract

A polymerization-induced self-stabilization strategy is reported for the fabrication of degradable polymer foams without external surfactants or particulate stabilizers. Specifically, interfacial polycondensation between glyoxal and 1,6-hexanedithiol generates amphiphilic oligomers in situ, which spontaneously adsorb at the oil–water interface and stabilize high internal phase emulsions (HIPEs). Subsequent curing and cross-linking afford interconnected hydrophobic foams with tunable porous structures and mechanical properties. The resulting materials exhibit efficient separation of organic solvents from water, facilitating recovery and reuse. Moreover, incorporation of glyoxylic acid as a comonomer tailors surface wettability, enabling effective adsorption of Cu²⁺ from aqueous solutions. Notably, the foams exhibit oxidative degradability under mild H₂O₂ treatment, underscoring their environmental benignity. This work establishes “polymerization-induced self-stabilization” as a new strategy for constructing surfactant-free, degradable foams templated by HIPEs with demonstrated applications in the fields of separation and adsorption.