A core-shell hybrid nanostructure,a hard core of single-crystalline lanthanum hydroxide nanowires and a soft shell of brushes of poly (ε-caprolactone) (PCL), has been successfully prepared by ring-opening polymerization (ROP) on the surface of nanowires. Such special structures were proved by TEM images. Meanwhile, the thickness of polymer layers was measured. The chemical component and the grafted PCL quantity of the sample were characterized by FTIR and TGA, which provides a simple and universal method to functionalize non-carbon nanowires. The modified lanthanum hydroxide nanowires can be well-dispersed in good solvents for PCL.
