2024 AIChE Annual Meeting
(181i) Rational Design of Precision Polymer Ligands for Modulating the Distribution of Functional Groups on Nanoparticle Surface
Authors
Amofa, C. - Presenter, Louisiana State University
Dearman, M., Louisiana State University
Oluwole, T., Louisiana State University
Polymer-coated nanoparticles (p-NPs) have emerged as a versatile platform for diverse applications, yet their inherent heterogeneity in both the organic ligand shell and the inorganic core remains a challenge. Despite significant progress in controlling polymer dispersity, there has been a growing interest in precisely manipulating the thickness and composition of the shell of p-NPs. In this talk, we report the synthesis of gold nanoparticles covered with discrete linear polymer ligands made of four monomer families: styrene, dimethyl siloxane, ethyl acrylate, and methyl acrylate. We found that the structural parameters of these ligands—chain length, chemical immiscibility, and, most importantly, dispersity, control the behavior of NPs. This versatile strategy enables the integration of organic shells with tailored functionalities onto inorganic NP cores, paving the way for the rational design of functional hybrid nanomaterials for a wide range of applications.