title: Core-shell-corona au-micelle composites with a tunable smart hybrid shell.
abstract: Micelles having a core of polystyrene and a mixed shell of poly(ethylene glycol) and poly(4-vinylpyridine) were formed through self-assembly of a triblock copolymer poly(ethylene glycol)- block-polystyrene- block-poly(4-vinylpyridine) in acidic water (pH 2). Reducing the HAuCl(4)-treated micelle solution leads to the formation of the Au-micelle composites with a core of polystyrene, a hybrid shell of poly(4-vinylpyridine)/Au/poly(ethylene glycol), and a corona of poly(ethylene glycol). The gold nanoparticles with controlled sizes were anchored to poly(4-vinylpyridine) to form the physically cross-linked hybrid shell. In aqueous solution, the hybrid shell is swollen and the swollen degree is sensitive to the pH condition. Under basic conditions, the channel in the hybrid shells of the composite is produced, which renders the composites a good catalytic activity. In addition, the composites also show good stability, unchanged hydrodynamic diameter, and surface plasmon absorption under different pH conditions.
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Functional Polymer Materials, Ministry of Education, Institute of Polymer Chemistry, Nankai University, Tianjin 300071, China.
authors.forename: Xi
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Yingli
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: An
authors.forename: Dongyun
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.forename: Zhenping
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: He
authors.forename: Yan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Jing
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Cheng
authors.forename: Linqi
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Shi