Synthesis of an oxygen-permeable block copolymer with catechol groups and its application in polymer-ceramic pressure-sensitive paint

Abstract

An oxygen-permeable block copolymer, poly (2,2,2-trifluoroethyl-co-isobutyl methacrylate)-b-poly (N-acryloyldopamine) (FEM-b-PDOPA), in which the PDOPA segment acts as an adhesive section to attach TiO2 nanoparticles, was successfully synthesized via RAFT polymerization followed by a post-polymerization modification with dopamine. Conjugates of FEM-b-PDOPA with TiO2 nanoparticles were prepared by mixing them in chloroform and methanol. IR and solid-state CP-MAS 13C NMR spectroscopies clearly indicated the presence of FEM on the TiO2 nanoparticles. Thermogravimetric analysis of the resulting nanoparticles indicated that FEM-b-PDOPA, rather than FEM alone, was tightly bound to the TiO2 nanoparticles, and that the weight fraction was 2.5 wt%. Polymer-ceramic pressure-sensitive paint was prepared by mixing a luminescent dye, FEM, and TiO2 treated with either FEM-b-PDOPA or native TiO2. In comparison with the coating prepared using native TiO2, the pretreatment of TiO2 with FEM-b-PDOPA effectively reduced the photodegradation of the luminescent dye without deterioration in pressure and temperature sensitivity or dynamic response performance.