A new AuNPs-based thermosensitive nanoreactor (SiO2@PMBA@Au@PNIPAM) was designed and prepared by stabilizing AuNPs in the layer of poly(N,N’-methylenebisacrylamide) (PMBA) and subsequent wrapping with the temperature-sensitive poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAM) layer. The new nanoreactor exhibited high dispersibility and stability in aqueous solution and effectively prevented the aggregation of AuNPs caused by the phase transformation of PNIPAM. The XPS and ATR-FTIR results indicated that AuNPs could be well stabilized by PMBA due to the electron transfer between the N atoms of amide groups in the PMBA and Au atoms of AuNPs. The catalytic activity and thermoresponsive property of the new nanoreactor were invested by the reduction of the environmental pollutant, 4-nitrophenol (4-NP), with NaBH4 as a reductant. It exhibited a higher catalytic activity at 20 °C and 30 °C (below LCST of PNIPAM), but an inhibited catalytic activity at 40 °C (above LCST of PNIPAM). The PNIPAM layer played a switching role in controlling the catalytic rate by altering the reaction temperature. In addition, this nanoreactor showed an easily recyclable property due to the existence of a silica core and also preserved a rather high catalytic efficiency after 16 times of recycling.
An effective polymerization system was developed for the synthesis of highly cross‐linked hydrophilic monodispersed microspheres with both the micropores and mesopores inside. A series of poly(N,N′‐methylenebisacrylamide) (PMBA) microspheres with the diameters ranging from 100 to 300 nm were synthesized by distillation precipitation polymerization with N,N‐dimethylacetamide (DMAC) as the porogen, acetonitrile as the solvent, and MBA as the cross‐linker and monomer. The particle size, morphology, and porosity varied according to the variation of the DMAC content. The porosity was determined by physical adsorption of nitrogen, and reached the maximum at 7.5 vol% of DMAC with the specific surface area at 135.8 m2 g−1 and the total pore volume at 0.43 cm3 g−1. The porous and hydrophilic microspheres showed excellent swelling property in water and adsorption property for the Cd(II) in aqueous solution. Meanwhile, carboxylic groups were incorporated into the porous microspheres to achieve porous poly(N,N′‐methylenebisacrylamide‐co‐acrylic acid) (P (MBA‐co‐AA)‐P), which exhibited obvious synergies of the pores and functional groups on the adsorption and provided a perspective application of the Cd(II) removal.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.