Facile synthesis of core-shell organic-inorganic hybrid nanoparticles with amphiphilic polymer shell by one-step sol-gel reactions

Org.-inorg. hybrid core-shell nanoparticles with diams. ranging from 100 to 1000 nm were prepd. by a one-pot synthesis based on base catalyzed sol-gel reactions using tetraethoxysilane and a triethoxysilane-terminated polyethylene-b-poly(ethylene glycol) as reactants. Data from TEM, TGA, and solid-state NMR anal. are in agreement with the formation of core-shell nanoparticles with an inorg.-rich core and an external shell consisting of an amphiphilic block copolymer monolayer. The influence of the org.-inorg. ratio, soln. concn., and postcuring temp. on core and shell dimensions of the nanospheres were investigated by TEM microscopy.