Macromolecular Rapid Communications, Vol.31, No.2, 169-175, 2010
Polymer Single Crystal Templated Janus Nanoparticles
Top-selective surface modification has been widely used for the synthesis of Janus nanoparticles (NPs). Herein we demonstrate that polymer single crystals can serve as generic substrates to immobilize NPs and the resultant NPs are Janus in nature. This technique is generic because various NPs as well as polymer single crystal substrates can be used. Single crystals of poly(ethylene oxide), polycaprolactone, and polyethylene-block-poly(ethylene oxide) have been successfully used to immobilize gold, magnetic, and semiconducting NPs. Subsequent dissolution of the single crystals led to various types of Janus NPs and NP clusters with different polymer brushes.
Keywords:block copolymers;nanoparticles;polymer brushes;polymer crystallization;polymer single crystals