Atom Transfer Radical Polymerization of Styrene and Methyl Methacrylate from Mesoporous Ordered Silica Particles

Summary: Mesoporous silica was used as substrate for the grafting of alkyl halides initiators. The control over the surface‐initiated polymerization of styrene and MMA, in terms of molar mass and molar mass distribution, was successfully achieved using an ATRP mechanism. The occurrence of the polymerization inside the mesopores was confirmed by thermogravimetric analysis. Transmission electron microscopy and schematic representation of mesoporous silica functionalized by the anchored iniator (left) and the grafted polymer (right). magnified image Transmission electron microscopy and schematic representation of mesoporous silica functionalized by the anchored iniator (left) and the grafted polymer (right).