The generation of polymeric nano-bowls through 3D confined assembly and disassembly

Here we present a facile yet robust strategy to prepare polymer nano-bowls through 3D confined assembly and disassembly of block copolymers. Unlike the previously reported methods, this strategy allows for generation of nano-bowls with precisely controllable opening degree and thickness. Typically, polystyrene-b-poly(4-vinyl pyridine) (PS-b-P4VP) nano-bowls can be generated through confined assembly of PS-b-P4VP with homopolystyrene (hPS) to form Janus particles, followed by the crosslinking of P4VP domains and disassembly of PS domains. The opening degree of the nano-bowls can be precisely controlled by the weight fraction of hPS, and the thickness can be tailored by the varying molecular weight of PS-b-P4VP. By selectively loading gold nanoparticles in P4VP domains, it is anticipated that the resulting hybrid nano-bowls would be useful for surface enhanced Raman scattering and potential catalytic reaction applications.