Synthesis of amphiphilic star-shaped block copolymers through photo-induced metal free atom transfer radical polymerization

Photo-induced metal free ATRP method was employed for the synthesis of star-shaped polymers. By using 21-Br-β-CD as the macroinitiator, 10-phenylphenothiazine as the photoredox catalyst, star-shaped PtBA homopolymers were synthesized. The photo-induced ATRP displayed all the characteristics of controlled/living polymerization systems and the good light control over the polymerization process. The successful chain extension with MMA demonstrated the high livingness of PtBA “arms” and good controllability of the Photo-induced metal free ATRP. Finally, the achieved PtBA-b-PMMA star-shaped copolymers were used as templates for the preparation of precisely size-tunable CdSe quantum dots after a simple hydrolyzing process.