A Novel Strategy for Synthesis of Polystyrene/Fe₃O₄ Nanocomposite: RAFT Polymerization, Functionalization, and Coordination Techniques

ABSTRACT

A facile strategy for the synthesis of polystyrene/Fe₃O₄ nanocomposite is suggested. For this purpose, styrene and 4-chloromethyl styrene monomers was copolymerized through reversible addition of fragmentation chain transfer technique [P(St-co-CMSt)] and then the chlorine groups of CMSt units were converted to diethyl malonate groups through a nucleophilic substitution reaction. Afterward, esteric groups of diethyl malonate were hydrolyzed to afford carboxylic acid-functionalized polystyrene. This polymer with carboxylic acid groups can adsorbed onto the surface of Fe₃O₄ nanoparticles through the interaction with hydroxyl groups onto the surface of the nanoparticles. We envision that the synthesized PSt/Fe₃O₄ nanocomposite may be find applications in electromagnetic interference shielding and environment sciences.

GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT

KEYWORDS:

• Fe₃O₄ nanoparticles
• functionalization
• nanocomposite
• polystyrene
• RAFT polymerization