Preparation of Polymer Coated Gold Nanoparticles by Surface-Confined Living Radical Polymerization at Ambient Temperature

Abstract

Nanometer sized core−shell particles containing a gold core and poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) shells were prepared by surface-confined living radical polymerization on gold nanoparticles. Gold nanoparticles were prepared in the presence of 11-mercaptoundecanol (MUD) and subsequently esterified with 2-bromoisobutyryl bromide (BIB). Atom transfer living radical polymerization was conducted on the Br-terminated gold nanoparticles using copper(I) bromide/1,4,8,11-tetramethyl-1,4,8,11-tetraazacyclotetradecane (Me4Cyclam) as a room-temperature catalyst. FTIR spectroscopy confirmed the presence of polymer on the nanoparticle surfaces. The resulting gold/polymer nanocomposite particles are stable in suspension. Transmission electron microscopy and UV−vis spectroscopy were performed to characterize the gold nanoparticles (GNPs).