Gold-loaded polymeric micelles with temperature-modulated catalytic activity

Abstract

Four-armed amphiphilic block copolymers, polystyrene-b-poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (PS-b-PNIPAM) 4 , were synthesized by atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP). (PS-b-PNIPAM) 4 self-assembled into micelles with PS block as core and thermoresponsive PNIPAM block as corona. The gold nanoparticles (Au NPs) with average diameter about 5.8 nm were immobilized on the surfaces of the micelles by the reduction of the corresponding ions. The micelle-supported gold nanoparticles (Au-micelles) were applied to catalyze the reduction of p-nitrophenol. Moreover, the activity of the Au-micelle catalyst could be modulated by the temperature and the Au-micelles could be easily recovered by changing the temperature and recycled four times with high catalytic activity.

Preparation of Cross‐Linked Micelles from Glycidyl Methacrylate Based Block Copolymers and Their Usages as Nanoreactors in the Preparation of Gold Nanoparticles

“…Thiol compounds are well‐known ligands for gold ions and Au nanoparticles (AuNPs) . Polymer coated AuNPs have been reported to have good catalytic activity in the literature . AuNPs located in the core of polystyrene ‐b‐ poly( N ‐isopropyl acrylamide) micelle structures have been examined as catalyst system in the reduction of p ‐nitrophenol .…”

“…Polymer coated AuNPs have been reported to have good catalytic activity in the literature . AuNPs located in the core of polystyrene ‐b‐ poly( N ‐isopropyl acrylamide) micelle structures have been examined as catalyst system in the reduction of p ‐nitrophenol . McFarland's group investigated the catalytic activity of polystyrene ‐block‐ poly(2‐vinylpyridine) micelle coated AuNPs for electro‐oxidation of carbon monoxide .…”