Control of the catalytic properties and directed assembly on surfaces of MADIX/RAFT polymer-coated gold nanoparticles by tuning polymeric shell charge

This paper reports the use of MADIX/RAFT polymers to modulate the surface net charge of gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) with the aim of controlling their catalytic properties and their directed assembly on surfaces using AFM nanoxerography. A cationic polymer, poly[(3-acrylamidopropyl) trimethyl ammonium chloride], a pH-responsive polymer that is anionic under basic conditions, poly(acrylic acid), and a thermoresponsive neutral polymer, poly(N-isopropyl acrylamide) were synthesised and employed to coat preformed AuNPs. Depending on the polymer nature, different optical and surface charge properties were conferred to the nanohybrids. Their net surface charge was found to be a crucial parameter to modulate their catalytic properties and directed assembly on surfaces.