Tubular Polymer Nanoobjects with a Crosslinked Shell and Inward-Grafted Polymer Brushes

A simple route for preparing robust polymer nanotubes by SI-ATRP within porous anodic aluminum oxide membranes and subsequent removal of the templates is presented. The nanotubes are composed of a crosslinked poly(styrene-co-divinylbenzene) shell and an inwardly grafted functional P4VP or PGMA brush-like internal surface. The crosslinked skin endows the nanotubes with stability against organic solvents while the inwardly grafted polymer brushes supply the nanotubes with reactivity and functionalities. The inward PGMA hairs are post-modified with sodium azides to introduce azido groups along tubular internal surfaces which are further reacted with propargyl alcohol. Structure and properties of the nanotubes are studied by SEM, TEM, LSCM, and FT-IR spectroscopy.