Spatially Controlled Occlusion of Polymer‐Stabilized Gold Nanoparticles within ZnO. Issue 13 (20th February 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Ning, Yin; Fielding, Lee A.; Nutter, John; Kulak, Alexander N.; Meldrum, Fiona C.; Armes, Steven P.
• Is Part Of: Angewandte Chemie international edition. Volume 58:Issue 13(2019)
• Page Start: 4302
• Page End: 4307
• Publication Date: 2019-02-20
• Subjects: gold nanoparticles -- nanocomposites -- nanomaterials -- RAFT polymerization -- ZnO; Chemistry -- Periodicals; 540
• DOI: 10.1002/anie.201814492
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1433-7851

Abstract

Abstract: In principle, incorporating nanoparticles into growing crystals offers an attractive and highly convenient route for the production of a wide range of novel nanocomposites. Herein we describe an efficient aqueous route that enables the spatially controlled occlusion of gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) within ZnO crystals at up to 20 % by mass. Depending on the precise synthesis protocol, these AuNPs can be (i) solely located within a central region, (ii) uniformly distributed throughout the ZnO host crystal or (iii) confined to a surface layer. Remarkably, such efficient occlusion is mediated by a non‐ionic water‐soluble polymer, poly(glycerol monomethacrylate)70 (G70 ), which is chemically grafted to the AuNPs; pendent cis ‐diol side groups on this steric stabilizer bind Zn 2+ cations, which promotes nanoparticle interaction with the growing ZnO crystals. Finally, uniform occlusion of G70 ‐AuNPs within this inorganic host leads to faster UV‐induced photodegradation of a model dye. Abstract : Does charge really matter? Non‐ionic poly(glycerol monomethacrylate)70 ‐stabilized gold nanoparticles (G70 ‐AuNPs) can be occluded within ZnO crystals at remarkably high levels (up to ≈20 % by mass) and with spatial control during in situ growth of ZnO crystals in aqueous solution. This illustrates a straightforward yet efficient route for the localized occlusion of nanoparticles within host inorganic crystals.