Environmentally Responsive “Hairy” Nanoparticles
the nanoparticles response to different solvents!
How?
An asymmmetric difunctional initiator, “Y-silane” is designed and synthesized. “Y-silane” combines the initiators for both ATRP and NMRP together, as well as a silane group which can immobilize the “Y” difunctional initiator on the surface of silica nanoparticles.
Once the Y-initiator-terminated self-assembled monolayer (Y-SAM) forms on the nanoparticle surface, two different types of polymerization are initiated from the surface: ATRP of tert-butyl acrylate (PtBA), and then, NMRP of styrene at higher temperature. Finally, subsequent hydrolysis of PtBA produces amphiphilic mixed poly (acrylic acid) (PAA)/PS brushes.
These “hairy” nanoparticles response to environmental changes, such as in chloroform, the selective solvent for PS, or in methanol, a selective solvent for PAA.
These results were published on JACS, 2005.