Photoinduced atom transfer radical polymerization using semiconductor nanoparticles

Abstract

Photoinduced atom transfer radical polymerization of methyl methacrylate initiated by in situ generation of copper (I) complex from higher oxidation state species using neat zinc oxide and iron-doped zinc oxide nanoparticles is investigated. The polymerizations proceed in a well-controlled manner under UV light at room temperature as evidenced by kinetic and light on-off experiments. The evolution of molecular weight with conversion shows good correlations between experimental and theoretical molecular weights, which confirmed good control over polymerization along with a narrow molecular weight distribution. A versatile initiating system composed of semiconductor nanoparticles and Cu IIBr2/PMDETA for photoinduced atom transfer radical polymerization is developed. The polymerizations proceed in a well-controlled manner under visible light at room temperature as evidenced by kinetic and light on-off studies. © 2013 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.