Synthesis of Conductive Core−Shell Nanoparticles Based on Amphiphilic Starburst Poly(n-butyl acrylate)-b-poly(styrenesulfonate)

Abstract

A synthetic route for highly stable electrically conductive core−shell nanoparticle was developed. It involves the synthesis of multiarmed poly(n-butyl acrylate-b-polystyrene) (PBA-b-PS) starburst block copolymers via the atom transfer radical polymerization method from polyfunctional initiators under very dilute condition using n-butyl acrylate and styrene as monomers, sequentially. Both NMR and gel permeation chromatography analyses reveal that the as-synthesized copolymers had a well-controlled molecular weight with a polydispersity of below 1.2. Then, the outer PS shell of the star copolymer was converted into hydrophilic poly(p-styrenesulfonate) with acetyl sulfate to generate amphiphilic PBA-b-PSS unimolecular micelles. The 1H NMR spectrum confirmed that a sulfonation of almost 100% was reached without hydrolysis of the side butyl ester chain on PBA blocks. Finally, the oxidative propagation of 3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene (EDOT) on the PSS chains was carried out by counterion-induced polymerization t...