Poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAM) brushes were grafted on the surface of ​large-​pore periodic mesoporous organosilica (PMO) using surface-​initiated activators regenerated by electron transfer (ARGET) atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP). The resulting nanoporous materials were characterized by thermogravimetry, nitrogen adsorption, FT-IR and small angle X-​ray scattering (SAXS). The loading of the polymer can be controlled over a wide range by changing the polymerization time. A high loading of polymer (up to ~35 wt. %) was achieved without pore blocking. This research demonstrates that the range of ordered mesoporous materials suitable as supports for polymer brushes extends beyond pure-silica materials into hybrid organic-inorganic frameworks.

Grafting of poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) brushes on the surface of cylindrical mesopores of periodic mesoporous organosilica via atom transfer radical polymerization

250th National Meeting (2015)

The official archive and repository for all ACS Meetings & Expositions abstracts and select posters or presentations.