A general procedure for surface modification of nano-alumina and its application to dendrimers

Abstract

A general procedure for surface modification of nano-alumina using N, N′-dicyclohexylcarbodiimide (DCC) mediated amidation is reported. Aliphatic and aromatic carboxylic acids reacted smoothly with nano-alumina pretreated with 3-aminopropyltriethoxysilane in the presence of DCC, giving modified aluminas having organic surfaces. The grafted aluminas have been characterized qualitatively by FT-IR or ¹³C CPMAS NMR spectroscopy, and quantitatively by thermogravimetric analysis and elemental analysis. The procedure was applied to polyether dendrons bearing carboxyl groups at the focal points, giving successful grafting of dendrimers onto nano-alumina.

Keywords

nano-alumina / N, N′-dicyclohexyl-carbodiimide (DCC) / surface modification / dendrimers

References

[1] Chen X. Y., Randall D. P., Perruchot C., . Synthesis and Aqueous Solution Properties of Polyelectrolyte-grafted Silica Particles Prepared by Surface-initiated Atom Transfer Radical Polymerization[J]. J. Colloid. Interface. Sci., 2003, 257(1): 56-64.

[2] Zeng Z., Yu J., Guo Z. X. Preparation of Epoxy-functionalized Polystyrene/silica Core-shell Composite Nanoparticles[J]. J. Polym. Sci. Pol. Chem., 2004, 42(9): 2 253-2 262.

[3] Erdem B., Sudol E. D., Dimonie V. L., . Encapsulation of Inorganic Particles via Miniemulsion Polymerization. III. Characterization of Encapsulation[J]. J. Polym. Sci. Pol. Chem., 2000, 38(24): 4 441-4 450.

[4] Bourgeat-Lami E., Espiard P., Guyot A., . Emulsion Polymerization in the Presence of Colloidal Silica Particles-Application to the Reinforcement of Poly(ethyl acrylate) Films[J]. Angew. Makromol. Chem., 1996, 242: 105-122.

[5] Van Herk A. M. Asua J. M. Encapsulation of Inorganic Particles. In Polymeric Dispersions: Principles and Applications[M], 1997. Netherlands: Kluwer Academic Publishers. 435-450.

[6] Abboud M., Turner M., Duguet E., . PMMA-based Composite Materials with Reactive Ceramic Fillers .1. Chemical Modification and Characterisation of Ceramic Particles[J]. J. Mater. Chem., 1997, 7(8): 1 527-1 532.

[7] Rong M. Z., Ji Q. L., Zhang M. Q., . Graft Polymerization of Vinyl Monomers onto Nanosized Alumina Particles[J]. Euro. Polym. J., 2002, 38(8): 1 573-1 582.

[8] Duguet E., Abboud M., Morvan F., . PMMA Encapsulation of Alumina Particles through Aqueous Suspension Polymerisation Processes[J]. Macromol. Symp., 2000, 151: 365-370.

[9] Tsubokawa N., Hosoya M. Reactive Carbon-black Having Active Phenyl Ester Groups-Preparation and Reaction with Functional Polymers Having Hydroxyl or Amino-groups[J]. React. Polym., 1991, 14: 95-102.

[10] Guo Z. X., Yu J., Yu J. Surface Modification of Nanometer Silica by N,N′-dicyclohexyl-carbodiimide Mediated Amidation[J]. Chinese Chem. Letters, 2001, 12(10): 933-934.

[11] Tsubokawa N., Kotama K., Saitoh H., . Preparation of Nano-sized Silica with Solar Energy Conversion and Storage Function by Immobilization of Norbornadiene Moieties to Hyperbranched Poly(amido amine)-grafted Nano-sized Silica[J]. Composite Interfaces, 2003, 10(6): 609-619.

[12] Guo Z. X., Yu J. Grafting of Dendritic Polyethers onto Nanometre Silica Surface[J]. J. Mater. Chem., 2002, 12(3): 468-472.