Preparation of SiO2-g-PMMA hybrid materials employing different photocatalysts of metal-free ATRP and its application for oil-water separation

Abstract

SiO2-g-PMMA hybrid materials was prepared by grafting the PMMA polymer chains from nano-SiO2 particles surface via metal-free atom transfer radical polymerization (metal-free ATRP). The FT-IR, XPS, SEM, BET and TGA tests proved that PMMA polymer chains was successfully grafted from the surface of nano-SiO2 particles. We discussed the catalytic effect and mechanism of four types photocatalysts in the preparation of SiO2-g-PMMA hybrid materials and chose Rhodamine B catalyst with reduction quenching to prepare SiO2-g-PMMA because its catalytic system has the highest conversion rate under the similar controllable degree. In addition, the kinetic analysis and chain extension reaction of the polymerization process were carried out, and it was found that the concentration of free radicals in the system remained constant, the molecular weight distribution of the polymer chains was narrow, and SiO2-g-PMMA-b-PS was successfully prepared, which indicated that the polymerization conformed the characteristics of “living /controllable” polymerization. Finally, SiO2-g-PMMA particles were cured on the fabric surface in the form of layers, the water droplets did not infiltrate on the modified layer, and the contact angle was 166.2°, showing excellent superhydrophobic properties. Moreover, the modified layer performed well in the self-cleaning experiment and oil-water separation experiment.