Polymer-Grafted Carbon Spheres by Surface-Initiated Atom Transfer Radical Polymerization

✍ Scribed by Yi Zheng Jin; Chao Gao; Harold W. Kroto; Toru Maekawa

• Publisher: John Wiley and Sons
• Year: 2005
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 239 KB
• Volume: 26
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 1022-1336
• DOI: 10.1002/marc.200500218

✦ Synopsis

Abstract

Summary: In situ atom transfer radical polymerization techniques have been used to produce polymer‐grafted carbon spheres (CSs). The surfaces of as‐prepared CSs were functionalized in the presence of CS‐supported macroinitiators. The resulting materials were characterized by FTIR and NMR spectroscopy, TGA, SEM, TEM, and HRTEM. The amount of polymer grafted onto the surfaces of the spheres can be controlled by varying the monomer/initiator feed ratio. The wetting ability and dispersibility of the polymer‐grafted CSs were improved significantly, compared with crude CSs, enabling stable dispersions in organic solvents to be produced. SEM and TEM studies indicate that a uniform distribution of the carbon spheres in the continuous polymer phase can be produced.

SEM image (left) of poly(glycerol monomethacrylate) grafted carbon spheres, inset shows the structure. HRTEM image (right) of a polystyrene grafted carbon sphere, inset is the SAED pattern.

magnified imageSEM image (left) of poly(glycerol monomethacrylate) grafted carbon spheres, inset shows the structure. HRTEM image (right) of a polystyrene grafted carbon sphere, inset is the SAED pattern.