Light-intensity switch enabled nonsynchronous growth of fluorinated raspberry-like nanoparticles

Raspberry-like (RB) nanoparticles hold potential for diverse applications due to their hierarchical morphology. Here we developed a novel tandem synthetic approach of nonsynchronous growth based on photo-mediated reversible-deactivation radical polymerization, enabling simple, efficient and bottom-up synthesis of RB nanoparticles of uniform sizes at quantitative conversions of fluorinated monomers. Chain transfer agents of different chain lengths, concentrations and chemical compositions were varied to tune the diameter of RB particles. Importantly, fluorinated RB nanoparticles obtained with this method allow facile post modifications via both covalent bond formation and intermolecular physical interactions without disrupting the RB morphology. The facile nature of this method and versatility of the obtained fluorinated RB materials open new opportunities for the development of functional materials using nanoparticles.

Nonsynchronous growth of raspberry-like (RB) nanoparticles in a one-pot and bottom-up fashion, enabling simple post-modification of RB colloids through both covalent bond formation and supramolecular interaction.