Self-condensing Atom Transfer Radical Polymerization from Surfaces: Nanocomposites of Multifunctional Hyperbranched Polymers

• Applicant: Professor Dr. Axel Müller
• Subject Area: Preparatory and Physical Chemistry of Polymers
• Term: from 2002 to 2012
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 5356754

Self-condensing vinyl polymerization (SCVP) via atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) from the surface of silica (or gold) nanoparticles leads to hybrid nanoparticles with an extremely high density of functional groups at the surface and precise nanoscopic dimensions. For this aim, ATRP initiators are covalently linked to silica particles, followed by SCVP of initiator-monomers ("inimers") having both an acrylic monomer and initiator function in the same molecule. On the average, the hyperbranched polymers carry one bromoester function per monomer unit. The degree of branching and functionality can be adjusted by copolymerization with acrylic monomers. The bromoester function will be further modified by chemical transformations or by atom transfer radical addition to result a variety of functional groups with surface densities which are by orders of magnitude higher than for linear grafted polymers.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants