Fascinating Morphologies and Hybrid Nanostructures via Block Copolymer/Nanoparticle Self-Assembly

Abstract

Block copolymers (BCPs) have emerged as key materials due to their ability to self-assemble into a variety of well-defined nanostructures, which are essential for applications in nanotechnology, electronics, and materials science. Integrating inorganic nanoparticles (NPs) into BCPs creates hybrid materials with enhanced properties and provides new opportunities for advanced functional materials. This Perspective summarizes research from our group and others, focusing on the self-assembly behavior of BCP/NP hybrids, the resulting unique morphologies, and their potential applications. Highlighting our research group’s contributions, we discover the formation of complex nanostructures, including the helical packing of silver nanoparticles within cylindrical domains of polystyrene-block-poly(4-vinylpyridine) (PS-bP4VP) diblock copolymers and the stable perforated lamellar morphology achieved in bulk form. Our studies demonstrate that precise control over nanoparticle localization and distribution within the BCP structure is crucial for tailoring the material properties. We provide insights into the factors influencing these processes, including nanoparticle size, concentration, and surface chemistry, as well as the inherent properties of the BCPs. Furthermore, we have demonstrated that the hybrid bulk structure could be further used to create functional nanostructures that exhibit interesting photophysical properties. This Perspective highlights the potential of BCP/NP hybrids in developing next-generation functional materials and outlines future research directions in this evolving field.