Synthesis and characterization of photoluminescent Eu(III) coordinated with poly(2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate) grafted SiO₂ nanoparticles via surface RAFT polymerization

ABSTRACT

A novel fluorescent nanohybrid complex comprising of SiO₂ nanoparticles, poly(2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate) (PHEMA), and photoluminescent (Eu³⁺) was synthesized by a combination of controlled surface-initiated reversible addition fragmentation chain transfer (SI-RAFT) polymerization and coordination chemistry. Initially, PHEMA was grafted from the surface of SiO₂ NPs by SI-RAFT and then reacted with succinic anhydride to provide carboxyl acid groups on the external layers of SiO₂-PHEMA nanohybrids. The subsequent coordination of the nanohybrids with Eu³⁺ ions successfully afforded the photoluminescent Eu³⁺ tagged SiO₂-PHEMA nanohybrid complex (SiO₂-PHEMA-Eu³⁺). The structure and fluorescence properties of the Eu³⁺ coordinated nanohybrid complex were investigated using the respective physical and spectral studies.

KEYWORDS:

• SiO₂ nanoparticles
• polymer PHEMA
• photoluminescence
• RAFT polymerization

Funding

This research is funded by Vietnam National Foundation for Science and Technology Development (NAFOSTED) under grant number 104.02–2014.53.