Diblock copolymer templates, inorganic

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

Among a variety of present stmctures, core-shell molecular bmshes that contain diblock copolymers in the side chains are of special interest. A judicious choice of the two blocks in the side chains may result in an intramolecular phase separation in solution due to their unlike interactions with the solvent. This can aeate a ID channel in the core surrounded by a protective shell. The anisotropically shaped core can be practically used as a nanoreactor to synthesize and accommodate ID inorganic or hybrid nanostmctures. According to the chemical nature of the core and shell, the templates can be classified roughly into three forms, namely, amphiphilic, bishydrophilic, and self-templating core-shell molecular bmshes. 

The template assisted synthesis is based, among the others, on three main categories of materials, i.e. diblock copolymers [150-152], anodized alumina layers [153] and organic or inorganic colloidal particles [154-156] which act as scaffolds or supporting stmctures with desired size for the polymer that has to be templated and can be afterwards removed by dissolution in common solvents. 

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.)...

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