Porous Poly(styrene‐<i>co</i>‐divinylbenzene) Neutral Monolith: From Design and Characterization to Reversed‐Phase Capillary Electrochromatography Applications

Abstract

Abstract Macroporous cross‐linked organic polymers, based on styrene and divinylbenzene (PS‐DVB), are prepared as monolithic stationary phases for capillary electrochromatographic applications. The synthetic strategy, which relies on the semi‐interpenetrating polymer network (semi‐IPN) approach, is performed through UV‐initiated free radical copolymerization of the comonomers in the presence of poly( ϵ ‐caprolactone) (PCL) within the confines of fused silica capillaries. The characterization of PS‐DVB monoliths is carried out at the different stages of the synthesis using a combination of experimental techniques, thus providing information on the chemical and porous structures. All experimental results evidence the sole role of the PCL oligomer as a porogen.