Copolymer templates, inorganic

Complementary strategy is based on self-assembly of block copolymers template inorganic nanoparticles in binary solvents medium to form compact unidirectional structure. For instance, Fahmi et al. developed a simple concept whereby water acts as a trigger for morphological changes in water-in-toluene emulsions of... 

Nanostructured polymers, in particular block copolymers, have immense potential in areas ranging from templating inorganic materials to permeation/ filtration media, nano-assaying, nanolithography and high density data storage media. 

Inorganic Nanostructures on Surfaces Using Micellar Diblock Copolymer Templates... 

Hsueh HY, Chen HY, She MS, Chen CK, Ho RM, Gwo S, Hasegawa H, Thomas EL (2010) Inorganic gyroid with exceptionally low refractive index from block copolymer templating. Nano Lett 10(12) 4994-5000... 

Additionally, spherical nanoparticles could be attached to the donut-like structures by incorporating other types of inorganic salts to the center of the holes. This example demonstrates the application of block copolymer templates beyond the synthesis of typical spherical nanoparticles and proves the potential of such templates to control the shape and complexity of the synthesized nanoparticles. 

Figure 2.12 (a) Schematic of evaporation-induced self-assembly of nanoparticle building blocks and block copolymer templates leading first to porous hybrid films and then to fully inorganic films after thermal treatment (b) SEM image of a particle-based mesoporous... 

Figure 5.29 Strategy for developing inorganic nanoscale objects and mesoporous media from microphase-ordered block copolymer templates. In this case, an I-EO diblock copolymer is imbibed with a ceramic precursor such as 3-(glycidyloxypropyl)trimethoxysilane (GLYMO) and aluminum iec-butoxide so that the corresponding silicate can be subsequently formed within the confined environment of the copolymer matrix. Dissolution of the copolymer results in discrete, polymer-covered ( hairy ) objects, whereas calcination at elevated temperatures yields mesoporous ceramic materials. (Reprinted with permission from Simon, P. F. W., Ulrich, R., Spiess, H. W. and Wiesner, U. Chem. Mater. 13, 3464, 2001. Copyright (2001) American Chemical Society.)...

Smarsly, B. Antonietti, M. 2006. Block copolymer assemblies as templates for the generation of mesoporous inorganic materials and crystalline films. Eur. J. Inorg. Chem. 1111-1119. 

Fig. 9 Schematic representation of three approaches to generate nanoporous and meso-porous materials with block copolymers, a Block copolymer micelle templating for mesoporous inorganic materials. Block copolymer micelles form a hexagonal array. Silicate species then occupy the spaces between the cylinders. The final removal of micelle template leaves hollow cylinders, b Block copolymer matrix for nanoporous materials. Block copolymers form hexagonal cylinder phase in bulk or thin film state. Subsequent crosslinking fixes the matrix hollow channels are generated by removing the minor phase, c Rod-coil block copolymer for microporous materials. Solution-cast micellar films consisted of multilayers of hexagonally ordered arrays of spherical holes. (Adapted from [33])...

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