Tri-layer CdS/SiO

2

/polymer hybrid nanospheres were synthesized by distillation precipitation polymerization of either ethyleneglycol dimethacrylate (EGDMA) or EGDMA together with comonomers having different functional groups

such as methacrylic acid

4-vinylpyridine and 2-hydroxyethylmethacrylate

in the presence of 3-(methacryloxy)propyl trimethoxysilane (MPS)-modified CdS/SiO

2

nanoparticles as seeds in acetonitrile with 2

2′-azobisisobutyronitrile (AIBN) as initiator. In this approach

MPS-modified inorganic seeds were prepared by the modification of CdS/SiO

2

nanoparticles via the self-condensation reaction between the hydroxyl groups of sinaols

in which the CdS/SiO

2

nanoparticles were afforded by a reverse microemulsion technique for the synthesis of CdS core nanoparticles with the subsequent coating of silica layer. The polymer shell-layers encapsulated over the MPS-modified CdS/SiO

2

inorganic seeds

via

the efficient capture of the monomers and oligomers from the solution with the aid of the vinyl groups incorporated by the MPS modification

in which the polymer shell-thickness and functional groups including carboxyl

pyridyl and hydroxyl

were facilely controlled by the feed of EGDMA as well as the types of comonomers used for the polymerization. These nanospheres were characterized by transmission electron microscopy (TEM)

Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR)

thermogravimetric analysis (TGA)

fluorescence spectroscopy and zeta potential.