Synthesis, Characterization and Cleavage of Linear Polymers Attached to Silica Nanoparticles Formed Using Thiol-acrylate Conjugate Addition Reactions.

This study investigates the formation of linear polymer grafts using thiol-acrylate conjugate addition reactions on nanoparticle surfaces. Silica nanoparticles were first modified with an amine functionality, followed by the attachment of a photocleavable acrylate. Dithiol-diacrylate films were attached to the particles through the surface acrylate groups at various stoichiometric ratios of thiol to acrylate by conducting amine-catalyzed conjugate addition polymerizations.