Spatial control over brush growth through sunlight-induced atom transfer radical polymerization using dye-sensitized TiO2 as a photocatalyst

Abstract

Simulated-sunlight induced atom transfer radical polymerization is used for spatial control over polymer brush growth by in situ photo-generation of the Cu(I) /L activator complex from its higher oxidation state Cu(II) /L deactivator complex using dye sensitized titanium dioxide nano-particles. The polymerization is well controlled under sunlight irradiation. Another attractive feature of this method is the possibility of creating various patterned surfaces of brushes using photomasks. When a nanoporous alumina oxide membrane is used as the template for confinement diffusion of photogenerated Cu(I) /L catalyst, patterns with sub-50 nm resolution are obtained.

Keywords: SI-ATRP; polymer brushes; sunlight.