Self-assembly of metal-polymer analogues of amphiphilic triblock copolymers.
Organized arrays of anisotropic nanoparticles show electronic and optical properties that originate from the coupling of shape-dependent properties of the individual nanorods. The organization of nanorods in a controllable and predictable way provides a route to the fabrication of new materials and functional devices. So far, significant progress has been achieved in the self-assembly of nanorod arrays, yet the realization of a range of different structures requires changing the surface chemistry of the nanoparticles. We organized metal nanorods in structures with varying geometries by using a striking analogy between amphiphilic ABA triblock copolymers and the hydrophilic nanorods tethered with hydrophobic polymer chains at both ends. The self-assembly was tuneable and reversible and it was achieved solely by changing the solvent quality for the constituent blocks. This approach provides a new route to the organization of anisotropic nanoparticles by using the strategies that are established for the self-assembly of block copolymers.
Nie
Zhihong
Z
Department of Chemistry, University of Toronto, 80 St George Street, Toronto, Ontario M5S 3H6, Canada.
Fava
Daniele
D
Kumacheva
Eugenia
E
Zou
Shan
S
Walker
Gilbert C
GC
Rubinstein
Michael
M
D008670:Metals / Q000737:chemistry*; D053758:Nanoparticles / Q000737:chemistry; D011108:Polymers / Q000737:chemistry*; D013501:Surface-Active Agents / Q000737:chemistry*
D008670:Metals; D011108:Polymers; D013501:Surface-Active Agents