In Situ Surface‐Initiated ATRP Mediated by Gallium‐Based Liquid Metal Nanodroplets

Abstract

AbstractSurface‐initiated atom transfer radical polymerization (SI‐ATRP) is one of the most popular methods for surface modifications with functional polymer films, which has attracted significant attention in recent years. Herein, a facile method of gallium‐based liquid metal (GLM) nanodroplets mediated SI‐ATRP to prepare polymer brushes on GLM surfaces is reported. The ATRP initiator modified GLM (GLM‐Br) nanodroplets act as a substrate for the in situ SI‐ATRP and participate as a reducing agent to reduce Cu(II) deactivators to Cu(I) activators. UV–vis spectra confirm the feasibility of the in situ SI‐ATRP and indicate that the thickness and density of polymer brushes play an important role in performing a successful ATRP on GLM nanodroplets surfaces. Homo‐ and block copolymers, poly(3‐sulfopropyl methacrylate potassium salt) (PSPMA) and poly((2‐dimethylamino)ethyl methacrylate‐b‐(3‐sulfopropyl methacrylate potassium salt)) P(DMAEMA‐b‐SPMA) are successfully grafted to the GLM nanodroplets. Polymer brushes modified GLM nanodroplets show potential applications such as friction reduction and oil‐water emulsion separation. GLM nanodroplets mediated SI‐ATRP provides a novel and robust approach to preparing multifunctional GLM nanodroplets for different applications.