A novel strategy was proposed and then verified to graft poly(methyl methacrylate) chains from TiO2 nanoparticle surface (the TiO2-PMMA hybrid nanoparticles) via Cu2+-amine redox-initiated conventional radical polymerization.CuSO4-catalyzed surface-initiated radical polymerization of methyl methacrylate (MMA) was carried out in dimethylsufoxide (DMSO) from the TiO2 nanoparticles surface functionanlized with amine layers (the TiO2-NH2 nanoparticles) to prepare the TiO2-PMMA hybrid nanoparticles.The results from infrared spectroscopy
thermogravimetric analysis and electron microscopy showed that PMMA was successfully immobilized onto the TiO2 nanoparticle surface
the grafting yield increased with the reaction time
and the presence of PMMA chains hindered the further agglomeration and accordingly improved the dispersion stability in organic media.As there was no free PMMA chains in the reacting mixture
our strategy provided a facile and universal route to the hybrid nanoparticles of application potentials.