Preparation of polystyrene grafted silica nanoparticles by two-steps UV induced reaction

Polystyrene grafted silica nanoparticles (PSSNs) were prepared by the followed two steps: methacryloxypropyl silica nanoparticles (MPSNs) were modified with the monomer-iniferter, 4-vinylbenzyl N,N-diethyldithiocarbamate (VBDC) under UV irradiation. Then the VBDC modified silica nanoparticles (VBDCSNs) were used as iniferter for the surface-initiated (SI) controlled/“living” radical polymerization of styrene. A percentage of grafting (PG%) of 315.7% was achieved with a conversion of styrene of about 35% after 18 h UV irradiation.