Polystyrene- and poly(3-vinylpyridine)-grafted magnetite nanoparticles prepared through surface-initiated nitroxide-mediated radical polymerization

Polymer-grafted magnetite (Fe₃O₄) nanoparticles (diameter about 10 nm) were prepared through a direct polymer grafting reaction from their surfaces. The chemisorbed initiator (TEMPO-based alkoxyamine) for nitroxide-mediated radical polymerization with a phosphoric acid group gave controlled polystyrene (PS) and poly(3-vinylpyridine) (P3VP) graft layers on the surface. The graft densities of polymers on the surfaces of magnetite particles were estimated at 0.12-0.20 chains/nm² by thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). The improvement in the dispersibility of PS-modified magnetite in good solvents was verified by ultraviolet-visible (UV-vis) absorption spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and dynamic light scattering (DLS). In the case of P3VP-modified magnetite, the particles were stably dispersed in good solvents, by protonation, in acid solution, and by quarternization with iodomethane, in neutral aqueous solution. The magnetic response of the polymer-grafted magnetite against an external magnetic field was confirmed in the stable dispersion.