Highly Efficient Encapsulation and Phase Separation of Apolar Molecules by Magnetic Shell‐by‐Shell‐Coated Nanocarriers in Water

Abstract

We report on the development of a supramolecular nanocarrier concept that allows for the encapsulation and separation of small apolar molecules from water. The nanocarriers consist of shell-by-shell-coated nanoparticles such as TiO₂ and ferromagnetic Fe₃ O₄ . The first ligand shell is provided by covalently bound hexadecyl phosphonic acid (PAC₁₆ ) and the second shell by noncovalently assembled amphiphiles rendering the hybrid architecture soluble in water. Agitation of these constructs with water containing the hydrocarbons G1-G4, the fluorescent marker G5, the polychlorinated biphenyl PCB 77, or crude oil leads to a very efficient uptake (up to 411 %) of the apolar contaminant. In case of the hybrids containing a Fe₃ O₄ core, straightforward phase separation by the action of an external magnet is provided. The load can easily be released by a final treatment with an organic solvent.