Copolymers with fluorescence properties in mesoporous silica SBA-15: Synthesis and characterization

A novel copolymer with fluorescence properties in mesoporous silica SBA-15 was prepared via a combination of surface-initiated reversible addition–fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerization and “click” chemistry. A sufficient amount of peroxide groups were introduced into mesoporous silica SBA-15 channel pores and were further used to initiate the RAFT polymerization of styrene and 4-vinylbenzyl azide, resulting in SBA-15 supported polystyrene-co-poly(4-vinylbenzyl azide) copolymer (PS-co-PVBA/SBA-15) hybrid material. The samples were characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), thermogravimetry analysis (TGA), N2 adsorption–desorption isotherms and X-ray diffraction (XRD), respectively. The results show that the styrene and 4-vinylbenzyl azide had copolymerized inside mesoporous silica SBA-15. Subsequently, N-propargyl-carbazole (PC) was connected to PS-co-PVBA/SBA-15 hybrid material via “click” reaction, resulting in PS-co-PVBC/SBA-15 with carbazole side groups hybrid material. The fluorescence spectrum is dominated by a broad band from 350 nm to 400 nm in narrow region and the maximum peak is 362 nm, indicating the characteristic absorption of the carbazole group of PS-co-PVBC/SBA-15 hybrid material.

Graphical abstractA novel copolymer with fluorescence properties in mesoporous silica SBA-15 was prepared via a combination of surface-initiated reversible addition–fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerization and “click” chemistry.Figure optionsDownload full-size imageDownload as PowerPoint slide