Organic-inorganic nanohybrids via directly grafting gold nanoparticles onto conjugated copolymers through the Diels-Alder reaction

Abstract

Nanocomposites of poly- p-phenyleneethynylene gold nanoparticles (PPE-Au) were synthesized via directly grafting maleimide functionalized gold nanoparticles (MA-Au) onto PPE chains by a mild Diels-Alder reaction. The Diels-Alder reaction between copolymers and MA-Au leads to self-assembly of the MA-Au as well as enhances electronic communication between the copolymers and inorganic particles. The as-prepared hybrid nanoassemblies show homogeneous status and well-defined interfaces, which facilitate the electronic interaction between conjugated polymers and gold nanoparticles. Moreover, dramatic photophysical properties and an influence on the assembly behavior of gold nanoparticles are also exhibited, which allows this procedure to be performed as a smart assay for monitoring the process of the Diels-Alder reaction.