Chemistry Commons^™

Synthesis And Temperature-Induced Phase Transfer Behavior Of Thermosensitive Hairy Particles Between Aqueous Solution And A Hydrophobic Ionic Liquid, Jonathan Michael Horton

Doctoral Dissertations

This dissertation presents the synthesis of a family of thermosensitive polymer brush-grafted silica particles and the study of their thermally induced phase transfer behavior between water and a hydrophobic ionic liquid, 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)amide ([EMIM][TFSA]). The hairy particles were prepared by surface-initiated atom transfer radical polymerization.

Chapter 1 describes the synthesis and phase transfer behavior of a series of 205 nm silica particles grafted with thermosensitive polymers of methoxyoligo(ethylene glycol) methacrylates. The hairy particles with sufficiently high lower critical solution temperatures underwent reversible and quantitative transfer between water and [EMIM][TFSA] in response to temperature changes. The transfer temperature (T_{tr …}

Supported Aqueous-Phase Catalysis For Atom Transfer Radical Polymerization, Ravi Aggarwal

Doctoral Dissertations

Atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) which utilizes transition metal based catalysts is a versatile methodology for the synthesis of a wide spectrum of polymers with controlled architectures. However, high concentrations of soluble catalyst required in an ATRP process makes the final polymer colored and toxic. Thus, the catalyst removal/reduction/recycling remains a challenge in the field of ATRP. Supported catalysts on insoluble solids such as silica gel, polystyrene beads, etc. have been used in ATRP to facilitate the catalyst recovery and recycling. However, the ability of the supported catalysts to mediate a polymerization is substantially reduced due to their reduced mobility …