High-Efficiency Polymerization for Synthesizing Polymer Nanoparticles in Melamine Foam Using Ultraviolet Irradiation.

Polymeric nanoparticles are primarily synthesized through emulsion polymerization, where surfactants are necessary to maintain dispersion stability. However, surfactants cause significant environmental pollution. The soap-free emulsion polymerization of styrene in melamine foam (MF) using a three-dimensional micronetwork structure as a reactor has been used to synthesize polymer nanoparticles, resulting in an extremely low polymer yield.