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Surface Functionalized ZnO Particles Designed for the Use in Transparent Nanocomposites
Author(s) -
Khrenov Victor,
Klapper Markus,
Koch Mathias,
Müllen Klaus
Publication year - 2005
Publication title -
macromolecular chemistry and physics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.57
H-Index - 112
eISSN - 1521-3935
pISSN - 1022-1352
DOI - 10.1002/macp.200400213
Subject(s) - nanocomposite , materials science , surface modification , nanoparticle , amphiphile , chemical engineering , particle (ecology) , polymer chemistry , copolymer , dispersion (optics) , micelle , pulmonary surfactant , emulsion , adsorption , nanotechnology , polymer , organic chemistry , composite material , chemistry , aqueous solution , oceanography , physics , optics , geology , engineering
Summary: We present a new method for preparing a nanocomposite containing highly dispersed ZnO nanoparticles. The essence of this approach is the formation of surface modified inorganic particles and their homogeneous incorporation into a polymeric matrix. Therefore, an inverse emulsion of an inorganic salt, for example, zinc acetate stabilized by amphiphilic statistical copolymers, is prepared. By hydrolysis under basic conditions ZnO particles of a size below 100 nm are formed within the micelles. As the surfactant remains adsorbed on the surface of the particles, a surface functionalization with hydrophobic chains is performed. These chains can be considered as compatibilizers for blending of the ZnO nanoparticles in PMMA affording transparent nanocomposite films avoiding particle aggregated. The present approach is in principle applicable to all nanoparticles prepared in a sol‐gel process.TEM image of redispersed ZnO particles.