Janus colloidal copolymers

Abstract

We propose a new type of nanocomposite that we call Janus colloidal copolymers (JCCPs). JCCPs have two different polymers conjugated on opposite sides of a nanosized colloid. Janus clusters of copolymer PS-b-PAA (where PS is polystyrene and PAA is poly(acrylic acid)) are self-organized within confined mesoporous silica channels onto the surface of iron oxide (Fe3O4) core particles by coordination-induced adsorption. PScPAA diblock JCCPs are fabricated by selective crosslinking of the nanosized PAA domains. In addn., the crosslinked PAA domains are terminated with amine-capped polyethylene glycol (PEG) to form PS-cPAA-PEG triblock JCCPs. The cPAA domain contg. functional groups can serve as a nanoreactor to allow in situ prepn. of functional materials. The composite JCCPs combine the functionality of nanosized colloids with the amphiphilic performance and self-organization capability of copolymers. [on SciFinder(R)]