Due to the unique and useful materials properties exhibited by nanomaterials, understanding and developing the precision synthesis of these materials is essential. Although complex nanomaterials are often found in nature, for example in diatoms, producing similarly complex materials synthetically can be challenging. While a variety of methods for controlling the formation and alignment of nanomaterials have been reported the potential for exploration remains vast. Herein we report the use of polymer additives as an effective means for controlling both the synthesis and alignment of silica nanomaterials.Living cationic polymerization provides a ready means to precisely synthesize functional and structural polymers. Inspired by nature, polymers containing primary amines were designed for silica synthesis. To realize amine-containing polymers synthesized using living cationic polymerization, in which nitrogen-containing compounds can act as terminators or inhibitors, a phthalimide protecting group was used.1 After a post-synthesis deprotection reaction with hydrazine, a primary amine-containing polymer was produced. Various homo- and block copolymer structures were synthesized to investigate the influence of polymer structure on the resulting silica nanoparticles, ultimately producing uniquely shaped particles.Polymers containing ether groups were also known to assist in aligning silica nanoparticles. Therefore, thermally sensitive polymers containing ether groups were synthesized. Use of these thermally sensitive polymer additives resulted in unique alignment of the silica nanospheres into nanorings. Oda, Y.; Kanaoka, S.; Aoshima, S. J. Polym. Sci. A: Polym. Chem. 2010  , 48, 1207-1213.

Precision synthesis of polymers tailored towards directed formation and arrangement of silica nanomaterials

248th National Meeting (2014)

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