title: Selective confinement of oleylamine capped Au nanoparticles in self-assembled PS-b-PEO diblock copolymer templates.
abstract: Amphiphilic polystyrene-block-polyethylene oxide (PS-b-PEO) block copolymers (BCPs) have been demonstrated to be effective in directing organization of colloidal Au nanoparticles (NPs). Au NPs have been incorporated into the polymer and the different chemical affinity between the NP surface and the two blocks of the BCP has been used as a driving force of the assembling procedure. The morphology of the nanocomposites, prepared and fabricated as thin films, has been investigated by means of atomic force and scanning electron microscopies as a function of the NP content and BCP molecular weight. NPs have been effectively dispersed in PS-b-PEO hosts at any investigated content (up to 17 wt%) and a clear effect of the BCP properties on the final nanocomposite morphology has been highlighted. Finally, electrostatic force microscopy has demonstrated the conductive properties of the nanocomposite films, showing that the embedded Au NPs effectively convey their conductive properties to the film. The overall investigation has confirmed the selective confinement of the as-prepared surfactant-coated metal NPs in the PS block of PS-b-PEO, thus proposing a very simple and prompt assembling tool for nanopatterning, potentially suitable for optoelectronic, sensing and catalysis applications.
authors.forename: A Evelyn
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Di Mauro
authors.forename: Marinella
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Striccoli
authors.forename: Nicoletta
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Depalo
authors.forename: Elisabetta
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Fanizza
authors.forename: Laida
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Cano
authors.forename: Chiara
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ingrosso
authors.forename: Angela
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Agostiano
authors.forename: M Lucia
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Curri
authors.forename: Agnieszka
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tercjak
mesh_terms: D000588:Amines / Q000737:chemistry*; D006046:Gold / Q000737:chemistry*; D053768:Metal Nanoparticles / Q000737:chemistry*; D008970:Molecular Weight; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols / Q000737:chemistry*; D011108:Polymers / Q000737:chemistry; D011137:Polystyrenes / Q000737:chemistry*; D013499:Surface Properties; D013501:Surface-Active Agents
chemical_list: D000588:Amines; D011108:Polymers; D011137:Polystyrenes; D013501:Surface-Active Agents; C541965:polystyrene-b-poly(ethylene oxide); D011092:Polyethylene Glycols; D006046:Gold; C008703:oleylamine