Ultraviolet Light-Induced Surface-Initiated Atom-Transfer Radical Polymerization

Abstract

UV light-induced surface-initiated atom-transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) was reported. This method uses TiO₂ nanoparticles as photoactive materials to reduce Cu(II)/L to a Cu(I)/L complex under UV irradiation by a one-electron transfer process for ATRP with multiple usage of monomer solutions. The growth of polymer brushes can be manipulated by either varying the content of photoactive materials or regulating the irradiation intensity, thereby yielding polymer brushes with controllable thickness, composition, and architecture.