Dual Roles of Amino-Functionalized Silicon Quantum Dots (SiQDs) for Visible-Light-Induced Surface-Initiated PET-RAFT Polymerization on Substrates

Silicon quantum dots (SiQDs) are explored for the first time as an efficient photocatalyst for visible-light-regulated reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerization. The fluorescence quenching confirmed the photoinduced electron transfer (PET) between SiQDs and RAFT reagents. Besides all features of controlled radical polymerization, the SiQDs catalyzed PET-RAFT polymerization also exhibit good temporal control, high chain-end fidelity, and versatility with diverse monomers. Moreover, amino-functionalized SiQDs can be easily coated on the surface of substrates (silicon wafer) owing to the electrostatic interaction, and play a dual role of polymer-substrate connector and photocatalyst for the surface-initiated PET-RAFT polymerization. The SiQD-coated wafer was also proved to be an efficient recycle photocatalyst for PET-RAFT polymerization.