writer：Hou, L.; Bian, H.; Wang, Q.; Zhang, N.; Liang, Y.; Dong, D.
keywords：polymer brushes, cellulose nanocrystals, UV-induced photopolymerizations
source：期刊
specific source：RSC Advances
Issue time：2016年
Cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) are an exciting class of bio-based materials attracting increasing interest for
a wide range of potential applications due to their nanoscale dimensions, biocompatibility, biodegradability
and large surface area. In this work, we report a universal and facile strategy for the preparation of polymer
brushes on CNCs via photopolymerization in the absence of any initiator immobilization. The reported
procedure is applicable to a series of vinyl monomers, leading to the direct creation of homogeneous
and stable polymer coatings on CNCs. Characterization of the resulting polymer-grafted CNCs by FTIR
spectroscopy,  XRD,  AFM  and  TGA  indicates  a  high  grafting  density,  enhanced  dispersing  ability  and
thermal  stability  without  altering  the  crystalline  structure  of  the  intrinsic  CNCs.  Finally,  we  have
demonstrated  the  possibility  to  covalently  attach  4,4-di?uoro-4-bora-3a,4a-diaza-s-indacene  to  the
grafted  polymer  chain  ends  through  polymer  analogous  reactions.  The  a?orded  nano-objects  show
visible-light  photocatalytic  activity  and  chemoselectivity  in  the  oxidization  reaction  of  thioanisole  to
methyl phenyl sulfoxide.