Spherical, Monodisperse, Functional Bridged Polysilsesquioxane Nanoparticles

A method for the synthesis of functional polar, water soluble hybrid nanoparticles of uniform size is reported. Spherical, monodisperse nanoparticles are prepared utilizing inverse waterin- oil polymerization methods. Nanoparticle size can be influenced by adjusting the interfacial tension and monomer concentration. The electrochemically active nanoparticles shown below (1,1ʼ-bis[3-(trimethoxysilyl)propyl]-4,4ʼ-bipyridinium iodide) are being utilized in solid state electrochromic display devices. The polycationic nanoparticles can also be used as carriers for polyanions such as DNA and for the construction of layer-bylayer architectures.