Polychelates of amphiphilic cylindrical core–shell polymer brushes with iron cations

摘要

Well-defined amphiphilic cylindrical polymer brushes with a poly(acrylic acid) core and a poly(n-butyl acrylate) shell were synthesized via atom transfer radical polymerization. Unimolecular polymer cylinders were directly visualized on mica by scanning force microscopy. The hydrophilic cores of the brushes, poly(acrylic acid), were neutralized by NaOH and afterwards reacted with Fe3+ and Fe2+ cations. The formation of polychelates of polymer brushes and iron cations was confirmed and characterized by Fourier transform IR spectroscopy, UV–vis spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy and scanning force microscopy.