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Surface‐Initiated Anionic Polymerization of [1]Silaferrocenophanes for the Preparation of Colloidal Preceramic Materials
Author(s) -
Elbert Johannes,
Didzoleit Haiko,
Fasel Claudia,
Ionescu Emanuel,
Riedel Ralf,
Stühn Bernd,
Gallei Markus
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
macromolecular rapid communications
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.348
H-Index - 154
eISSN - 1521-3927
pISSN - 1022-1336
DOI - 10.1002/marc.201400581
Subject(s) - materials science , thermogravimetric analysis , ceramic , dynamic light scattering , polymerization , scanning electron microscope , chemical engineering , polystyrene , emulsion polymerization , nanoparticle , transmission electron microscopy , polymer , colloidal crystal , particle (ecology) , polymer chemistry , composite material , nanotechnology , colloid , oceanography , geology , engineering
A novel strategy for the preparation of poly(ferrocenylsilane) (PFS) immobilized on the surface of cross‐linked polystyrene (PS) nanoparticles is reported. The ferrocene‐containing core/shell architectures are shown to be excellent candidates as preceramic polymers yielding spherical ceramic materials consisting of iron silicide (Fe 3 Si) and metallic iron after thermal treatment. For this purpose, dimethyl‐ and hydromethyl[1]silaferrocenophane monomers are polymerized by surface‐initiated ring‐opening polymerization upon taking advantage of residual vinylic moieties at the PS particle surface. A strategy for selective chain growth from the particle surface is developed without the formation of free PFS homopolymer in solution. The grafted particles are characterized using transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and dynamic light scattering (DLS). These particles are excellent precursors for ceramics as studied by thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). The composition of the ceramics is studied using X‐ray diffraction (XRD) measurements, while the morphology is probed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) revealing the original spherical shape of the precursor particles. Obtained ceramic materials— predominantly based on iron silicides—show ferromagnetic behavior as investigated by superconducting quantum interference device (SQUID) magnetization measurements at different temperatures.