Intelligent Amphiphilic Diblock Copolymer for Dye Removal and Heavy Metal Sensing

Addressing the growing concerns of organic dye and heavy metal contamination in water sources, an amphiphilic diblock copolymer, poly(methacrylic acid)- block -poly(trifluoroethyl methacrylate) (PMAA 20 - b -PTFEMA 15 ), has been synthesized and characterized for dye encapsulation and heavy metal binding applications. The polymerization of tert -butyl methacrylate (TBMA) was precisely regulated via ultrasmall Sulphur dots mediated (S-dots) photoinduced reversible deactivation radical polymerization (photoRDRP), ensuring controlled molecular architecture. Subsequent block copolymerization with 2,2,2-trifluoroethyl methacrylate (TFEMA), followed by selective hydrolysis of the poly( tert -butyl methacrylate) PTBMA segment, yielded PMAA 20 - b -PTFEMA 15, introducing hydrophilic carboxyl groups while preserving the unique fluorinated segment properties. The amphiphilic nature of the synthesized copolymer facilitated efficient adsorption and encapsulation of both hydrophobic (C102) and hydrophilic dyes (Eosin B, Congo Red) through hydrophobic interactions. Furthermore, the copolymer exhibited significant heavy metal chelation capacity, effectively binding Pb 2+ ions through carboxyl–metal complexation. The synthesized functional polymer presents a promising avenue for water purification application.