Nanocomposites from block copolymer lamellar nanostructures and selective gold deposition

Innovative hybrid nanocomposites based on a nanostructured block copolymer (BCP) matrix whose lamellar nanodomains are selectively loaded with metal nanoparticles, have been prepared. A symmetric poly(styrene-b-methylmethacrylate) (PS-b-PMMA) amorphous BCP showing a lamellar morphology has been employed. Thin films of PS-b-PMMA were deposited by spin-coating or drop casting on indium thin oxide (ITO) substrate in order to achieve orientation of lamellae with the lamellar surface perpendicular to the substrate. The perpendicular orientation is related to the use of ITO substrate, which shows a neutral surface with non-preferential interactions with the PS and PMMA domains. Hybrid nanocomposites have been then prepared by selective incorporation of gold nanoparticles into the PS lamellar domain by using a simple method based on the selective deposition of thermally evaporated gold nanoparticles. This innovative approach can be very useful for the realization of nanocomposites that could be used as active layer in non-volatile OFET memory devices or very efficient organic solar cells, depending on the appropriate guest molecules.