Functional sandwich-like organic/inorganic nanoplates from gelable triblock terpolymers†
Ke Zhang,Lei Gao,Cheng Zhang,Yongming Chen
Journal of Materials Chemistry Pub Date : 04/06/2009 00:00:00 , DOI:10.1039/B900515N
Abstract

A functional gelable triblock terpolymer, poly(3-(triethoxysilyl)propyl methacrylate)-block-polystyrene-block-poly(2-vinylpyridine) (PTEPM-b-PS-b-P2VP), was prepared by reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) mediated radical polymerization. This sample can microphase-separate to form a three-phase four-layer lamellar morphology in the bulk. After in-situ self-gelation only in PTEPM microdomains, we obtained an organic/inorganic hybrid bulk material with the basic lamellar microstructure unit composed of an inner crosslinked PTEPM layer sandwiched first by PS and then by P2VP layers. By dispersing in acidic water and tetrahydrofuran, novel sandwich-like hybrid nanoplates were prepared as characterized by electron microscopy and atomic force microscopy. The properties of pH sensitivity, gold nanoparticle stabilization and surface activity were explored. Further modification of P2VP hairs with 1-bromohexane and 1-capric acid, respectively, was carried out which supplied versatile ways to tune elaborate structure of the planar polymer nanoobjects.

Graphical abstract: Functional sandwich-like organic/inorganic nanoplates from gelable triblock terpolymers