Block copolymers have been extensively investigated as matrices for the structured composite materials. The block copolymer architecture allows specific functional groups for ligating inorganic species to be localized at the nanometer scale through phase separation. Advances in synthetic chemistry have broadly expanded the range of functional groups that can be easily incoporated in polymer blocks. We will discuss our efforts to prepare block copolymer/nanoparticle composites through the use of controlled polymerization techniques. The polymer components in these systems are typically block copolymers with alkyne-functional blocks prepared by controlled radical polymerization (nitroxide-mediated polymerization (NMP), atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP), or reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerization) and can be converted to hybrid materials by reaction with cobalt carbonyl. Thermolysis of adducts of alkyne-functional AB, ABA, and ABC block copolymers with cobalt carbonyl results in the formation of cobalt nanoparticles within the alkyne-functional domains and the resulting materials have been found to be ferromagnetic. Progress in the synthesis and characterization of these systems, including magnetic hydrogels (Figure 1), and other systems will be discussed.

Magnetic plastics and gels from hybrid cobalt-block copolymer materials

251st National Meeting (2016)

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