Photodeformable spherical hybrid nanoparticles.
We report the first synthesis of spherical nanoparticles of a bridged polysilsesquioxane. The hard, brittle nanoparticles are prepared by a simple sol-gel polymerization without surfactants or templates. Particle size ranges from 50 to 100 nm. The organic component of these hybrid nanoparticles is composed of a photolabile coumarin dimer. Irradiation with UV light dissociates the photodimer resulting in rupture of the cross-links and subsequent deformation and eventual "melting" of the nanoparticles.
Zhao
Lihua
L
Department of Chemistry, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, California 92697, USA.
Loy
Douglas A
DA
Shea
Kenneth J
KJ