A straightforward method is described to achieve polymeric nanoparticles by double folding of single linear chains. The side chain functional polystyrene with controlled molecular weight is converted to pendant azide and benzophenone motifs via postmodification reactions. Resulting functionalized chains undergo intramolecular crosslinking upon ultraviolet (UV) illumination using simultaneous and subsequent pathways at a dilute concentration. Particle size of nanoparticles can be tuned by changing the degree of crosslinking using a second folding process. Obtained single and double collapsed chains indicate higher glass transition temperatures and lower hydrodynamic radii compared to their intermediates. To our knowledge, the combination of photoinduced azide crosslinking and radical coupling processes is the first attempt to prepare double folding single polymer chains.
This contribution describes a simple method for preparing polymeric nanoparticles using photodimerization of anthracene moieties on the side chain of terpolymers in dilute regime and transformation of obtained polymeric nanoparticles into pyrene functional nanoparticles via Menschutkin quaternization procedure. Subsequently, pyrene possessing polymeric nanoparticles are attached onto multiwalled carbon nanotube (MWCNT) surfaces by π-π stacking strategy. Gel permeation chromatography, thermal gravimetric analysis, ultraviolet-visible, and fluorescence spectroscopies are used to analyze modified nanoparticles and their precursors. Electron microscopy and dispersion studies show that pyrene-modified polymeric nanoparticles are able to interconnect various CNTs.Additional supporting information may be found in the online version of this article.
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