Initiator-grafted silica particles for controlled free radical polymerization: Influence of the initiator structure on the grafting density

A series of organic-inorganic hybrid particles were synthesized by a self-assembled layer of different initiators, immobilized on silica particles and used for controlled radical polymerization. We use three different initiator systems for atom-transfer radical polymerization (ATRP), unimolecular nitroxide mediated polymerization (NMP), and bimolecular NMP, for the development of the hybrid inorganic/organic particles. After preliminary qualitative characterization by X-ray spectroscopy (XPS) and Fourier-transformed infrared (FT-IR) measurements, the hybrid nanoparticles were studied by thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) to determine and discuss the initiator graft density in terms of steric hindrance.