Plasmonic nanoparticles as sensors to probe the kinetics of polymer brush formation on two-dimensional nanoparticles

Plasmonic nanoparticles are sensitive to surroundings and can detect changes in refractive index. Based on our previous finding in plasmonic nanoparticle sensitivity, we have synthesized two-dimensional Ag nanodisks as sensors to probe the kinetics of polymer brush formation. Unitizing the unique plasmonic properties of Ag nanodisks, we demonstrated in situ the three-regime kinetics of polymer brush grafting process, and importantly, for the first time we experimentally revealed the cause of a latent regime in the process of polymer brush grafting onto a surface. The latent regime is a period of time that polymer molecules stop grafting onto the surface before molecule saturation, the cause of which has been a long-lasting puzzle in the field of polymer brush. The findings here can provide insight into the functionalization of plasmonic nanoparticles for their applications in polymer nanocomposites.