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Updated: Aug 9, 2026

Using Polystyrene-block-poly(acrylic acid)-coated Metal Nanoparticles as Monomers for Their Homo- and Co-polymerization
Published on: July 9, 2015
Synthesis of SiO2-coated Bi2S3/poly(styrene) nanocomposites by in-situ polymerization
A C Esteves1, M C Neves, A Barros-Timmons
1Departamento de Química, CICECO, Universidade de Aveiro, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal.
Abstract:
New nanocomposites containing silica-coated Bi2S3 nanofibers were synthesised by in situ polymerization using two distinct synthetic strategies: emulsion and suspension polymerization. Transmission and scanning electron microscopy of the nanocomposite particles showed that in both cases the Bi2S3/SiO2 nanoparticles were densely coated with poly(styrene). In situ emulsion polymerization afforded nanocomposites in which the nanofibers were coated with polymer spheres whilst suspension polymerization gives rise to a homogeneous polymer layer coat. The morphology of the poly(styrene) coating observed is discussed considering the surface modification of the nanofibers and the polymerization technique involved.

