Preparation and Application of Nitrobenzene-Containing Copolymer Nanoparticles Obtained by RAFT Dispersion Polymerization

In this study, the photoresponsive monomer of 2-nitrobenzyl methacrylate (NBMA) was introduced into the dispersion polymerization of benzyl methacrylate (BzMA) monomer mediated by poly[N,N-(dimethylamino) ethyl methacrylate] (PDMAEMA) macro-RAFT agent, and the PDMAEMA-b-P(BzMA-co-NBMA) block copolymer nanoparticles were prepared. The effects of the introduction of NBMA on the polymerization kinetics and the morphology of formed copolymer nanoassemblies were studied in detail. Then, the light response of PDMAEMA-b-P(BzMA-co-NBMA) block copolymer nanoparticles was verified. Moreover, the copolymer nanoparticles after irradiation could be used as the templates for loading silver nanoparticles, and it is proved that the template has advantage of regulating the amount of loaded silver by changing the UV light irradiation time.