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Spatially Controlled Occlusion of Polymer‐Stabilized Gold Nanoparticles within ZnO
Author(s) -
Ning Yin,
Fielding Lee A.,
Nutter John,
Kulak Alexander N.,
Meldrum Fiona C.,
Armes Steven P.
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
angewandte chemie
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 1521-3757
pISSN - 0044-8249
DOI - 10.1002/ange.201814492
Subject(s) - colloidal gold , nanoparticle , aqueous solution , steric effects , stabilizer (aeronautics) , ionic bonding , polymer , chemical engineering , materials science , ionic strength , nanotechnology , chemistry , polymer chemistry , ion , organic chemistry , mechanical engineering , engineering
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 (G 70 ), 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 G 70 ‐AuNPs within this inorganic host leads to faster UV‐induced photodegradation of a model dye.