Formation of CdS nanoclusters in phase-separated poly(2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate)-l-polyisobutylene amphiphilic conetworks

Nanophase-separated poly(2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate)-l-polyisobutylene (PH EMA-l-PIB) amphiphilic conetworks were obtained by crosslinking alpha,omega -bismethacrylate-terminated polyisobutylene (PIB) via copolymerization wit h silylated 2-hydroxyethyl methacylate, followed by the hydrolysis of the s ilylether groups. Morphology development of a sample containing 64% PIE was monitored by means of transmission electron microscopy (TEM), atomic force microscopy (AFM), and small-angle X-ray scattering. For comparison, the mo rphology of a sample containing 53% PIE was investigated by AFM. The dry co networks exhibited hydrophilic and hydrophobic phases with average 8-10-nm domain sizes and were swellable in water as well as in heptane. Swelling am phiphilic conetworks with aqueous cadmium-chloride solution followed by exp osure to H,S resulted in nanosized CdS clusters located in the amphiphilic conetworks, that is, for the first time, new inorganic organic hybrid mater ials composed of CdS semiconducting nanocrystals and PHEMA-l-PIB amphiphili c conetworks were prepared. (C) 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.