Catalytic degradation of nitrobenzene derivatives by platinum nanoparticles stabilized in diblock spherical polymer brushes

Abstract A new type of core–shell diblock spherical polymer brushes, poly 2-(methacryloyloxy)ethyl-trimethylammonium chloride-b-poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) diblock polymer brushes with polystyrene cores (PSV@PMETAC-b-PNIPA), was prepared through a surface-initiated photoiniferter-mediated polymerization method. The PSV@PMETAC-b-PNIPA (DSPB) was further used as the nanoreactor to prepare and stabilize platinum nanoparticles in situ (DSPB@Pt). By controlling the reaction temperature, substances with similar structure but different hydrophilicity, i.e. 4-nitrophenol and nitrobenzene, could be catalyzed by DSPB@Pt with different catalytic behaviors.