Related Experiment Video
Updated: Apr 7, 2026

Atom Transfer Radical Polymerization of Functionalized Vinyl Monomers Using Perylene as a Visible Light Photocatalyst
Published on: April 22, 2016
Unexpected in-situ Free Radical Generation and Catalysis to Ag/Polymer Nanocomposite
Yifan Pang1, Ruixue Wei1, Jintao Wang2
1School of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, Zhengzhou Key Laboratory of Elastic Sealing Materials, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450001, China.
Abstract:
In this study, we discover unexpectedly that simple reaction of AgNO3 with oleic acid (OA) without solvent and surfactant could generate alkyl free radical which can catalyze double-bond polymerization of OA to form 1D polymeric oleic acid (POA) chain. In certain conditions, these POA chains circumvolute tightly each other to form microspheres and micro-plates in which monodisperse 4-5 nm Ag nanoparticles (NPs) were absorbed. It has been revealed that alkyl free radical generated during the redox reaction of carboxyl group of OA with Ag(+) at relative low temperature. Then, the alkyl free radical catalyzed the double-bond polymerization of OA when the reaction temperature was further increased. Different from commonly-seen hydrophobic nanoparticles prepared in oleic acid-based microemulsion system, the nanocomposites cannot dispersed in n-hexane and could dispersed in ethanol and THF. The unusual dispersion behavior has been explained in terms of their structure and polarity of POA chain. The method combines the nucleation of Ag nanoparticles and the polymerization of monomer in a facile one-pot reaction, which provides a novel way for metal-polymer microsphere nanocomposite with low-cost, easy-operation and high-yield.
More Related Videos
07:283D Printing and In Situ Surface Modification via Type I Photoinitiated Reversible Addition-Fragmentation Chain Transfer Polymerization
Published on: February 18, 2022
07:41Advanced Compositional Analysis of Nanoparticle-polymer Composites Using Direct Fluorescence Imaging
Published on: July 19, 2016
Related Concept Videos
Radical Chain-Growth Polymerization: Mechanism
Free-Radical Chain Reaction and Polymerization of Alkenes
Radical Chain-Growth Polymerization: Overview
Cationic Chain-Growth Polymerization: Mechanism
Radical Chain-Growth Polymerization: Chain Branching
Radical Reactivity: Overview