Water stable perovskite nanocrystals for highly efficient photoinduced RAFT dispersion polymerization

Abstract

Metal halide perovskite nanocrystals (PNCs) are widely employed to photo-catalyze homogeneous reversible deactivation radical polymerization owing to their excellent photophysical properties. However, the structural vulnerability fundamentally impedes their further application in polymerization involving polar solvents, water in particular. Photoinduced reversible addition–fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) dispersion polymerization, frequently utilizing water as the dispersion medium, facilitates the one-pot fabrication of well-defined nano/microstructured polymers. It is of significance to extend the utilization of PNCs in this heterogeneous polymerization. Herein, water-stable CsPbBr₃ NCs are judiciously crafted, exhibiting aqueous structural integrity while maintaining charge transportation capability. Consequently, highly uniform polymethyl methacrylate microspheres could be prepared by photoinduced PNC-catalyzed RAFT dispersion polymerization. This photo-RAFT dispersion polymerization could be readily extended to synthesize various polyvinyl microspheres. Moreover, photo-RAFT dispersion polymerization could be accomplished under near-infrared light owing to the two-photon absorption ability of PNCs, which is inaccessible to conventional photo-RAFT dispersion polymerization.