title: Synthesis of Janus nanoparticles via a combination of the reversible click reaction and "grafting to" strategies.
abstract: A critical challenge in nanoparticle functionalization has been the preparation of polymer-grafted asymmetric (Janus) nanoparticles (diameter < 100 nm). We describe a robust and cyclic method involving a reversible click reaction and "grafting to" strategies to synthesize such nanoparticles. Mechanochemistry was used in a protection-deprotection process to separate nanoparticles cleanly that were anchored to larger particles, and the recovered azide-functionalized larger particles could be recycled as face-blocking moieties. With this combination of strategies, we prepared 15 nm silica nanoparticles that were partially functionalized with poly(methyl methacrylate). Additionally, the unique self-assembly behaviors of the resultant Janus nanoparticles were investigated in different solvents at different concentrations.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of South Carolina , Columbia, South Carolina 29208, United States.
authors.forename: Junting
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Lei
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Brian C
authors.initials: BC
authors.lastname: Benicewicz
mesh_terms: D057930:Click Chemistry; D053758:Nanoparticles / Q000737:chemistry*; D010316:Particle Size; D019904:Polymethyl Methacrylate / Q000737:chemistry; D012822:Silicon Dioxide / Q000737:chemistry*; D013499:Surface Properties
chemical_list: D012822:Silicon Dioxide; D019904:Polymethyl Methacrylate