An effective and controllable approach to derive polymer corona on oxide nanoparticles to enhance their compatibility in polymeric nanocomposites

Barium titanate nanoparticles were surface-functionalized by a novel polymeric surface-functionalization agent, using a rotary coating technology combined with the post-treatment bonding process. Fourier transform infrared and transmission electron microscopy results display that the nanoparticle surfaces were successfully functionalized by nitrile groups, and surrounded with a polymer corona. This can effectively prevent nanoparticles from agglomeration, and also can greatly enhance their compatibility with polymer matrices through macromolecular chains entanglement. It is important to note that the thickness of polymer corona is controllable. Furthermore, it was found that this method is also applicable to numerous other oxide nanoparticles, such as SiO2, TiO2, Fe3O4, etc.

► A novel polymeric surface-functionalization agent was developed.
► An effective approach to derive polymer corona on oxide nanoparticles was proposed.
► Rotary coating technology combined with the post-treatment bonding process.
► The thickness of polymer corona is controllable.