Reverse ATRP grafting from silica surface to prepare well-defined organic/inorganic hybrid nanocomposite

Structurally well-defined, polymer-grafted hybrid nanocomposite was prepared by introducing the surface of ultrafine silica with peroxide groups for reverse atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP). The introduction of peroxide groups onto the ultrafine silica was achieved by the reaction of hydrogen peroxide with chlorosilyl groups, which were introduced by the treatment of silica with thionyl chloride. Reverse ATRP from silica nanoparticles was then performed to attach well-defined homopolymer to an inorganic core.