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Preparation of silica microtubes by surface-initiated atom transfer radical polymerization from microfiber templates

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Abstract

Poly(methyl methacrylate-co-vinylbenzyl chloride), P(MMA-co-VBC) microfibers (with submicron diameters) of about 1 μm in size were prepared by electrospinning. Silyl-functional groups were introduced onto the P(MMA-co-VBC) microfibers templates via surface-initiated atom transfer radical polymerization of 3-(trimethoxysilyl)propyl methacrylate. The silyl groups were then converted into a silica shell, approximately 0.25 μm thick, via a reaction with tetraethoxysilane in ethanolic ammonia. Hollow silica microfibers were finally generated by thermal decomposition of the P(MMA-co-VBC) template cores. Scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy were used to characterize the intermediate products and the hollow microtubes. Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy results indicated that the polymer cores were completely decomposed. The microfibers were characterized by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction and the thermal gravimetric analysis.

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Acknowledgments

Financial support for this work was provided by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (50773029), the Fok Ying Tong Education Foundation (101047), the program for New Century Excellent Talents in University (NCET-06-0574), Jiangxi Provincial Department of Education, and the Program for Innovative Research Team of Nanchang University.

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  1. Institute of Polymers, Nanchang University, Xuefu Road 999, 330031, Nanchang, China

    Zhongfu Huang, Yiwang Chen, Weihua Zhou & Zupeng Guo

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  1. Zhongfu Huang
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  2. Yiwang Chen
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  4. Zupeng Guo
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Correspondence to Yiwang Chen.

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Huang, Z., Chen, Y., Zhou, W. et al. Preparation of silica microtubes by surface-initiated atom transfer radical polymerization from microfiber templates. Polym. Bull. 62, 615–627 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00289-009-0046-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00289-009-0046-y

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