Aqueous Polymerization-Induced Self-Assembly for the Synthesis of Ketone-Functionalized Nano-Objects with Low...

Area of Science:

• Polymer Chemistry
• Materials Science
• Nanotechnology

Background:

• Efficient synthesis of functionalized polymer nano-objects in water is crucial for materials applications and industrial scale-up.
• Reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) dispersion polymerization (PISA) offers a promising route for creating such nano-objects.
• Achieving uniform morphologies, particularly vesicles, and high concentrations remains a challenge in aqueous PISA.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a novel aqueous RAFT-PISA formulation for synthesizing ketone-functionalized nanospheres and vesicles.
• To achieve high control over nano-object morphology and uniformity.
• To enable efficient production of functionalized polymer nano-objects at high concentrations.

Main Methods:

• Aqueous RAFT-PISA was employed using diacetone acrylamide (DAAM) as the core-forming monomer.
• Strategies including reduced radical initiator concentration and lower polymerization temperature were implemented.
• Polymerization-induced self-assembly (PISA) was utilized to form nano-objects.

Main Results:

• Successfully synthesized ketone-functionalized nanospheres and vesicles with controlled morphologies.
• Achieved high density of ketone functionality within the nano-objects.
• Demonstrated improved vesicle uniformity with reduced initiator concentration and lower temperature, resulting in low polydispersity.

Conclusions:

• The developed aqueous RAFT-PISA formulation enables efficient, one-step synthesis of uniform, functionalized polymer nano-objects.
• Strategies for controlling vesicle morphology and uniformity were successfully implemented.
• The process allows for high solid content (up to 20%) production, advancing the field of functional nanomaterials.