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Chemically Nanostructured Organogel Monoliths from Cross-Linked Block Copolymers for Selective Infusion Templating.
Yuanzhi Li1, Abigail Plummer1,2, Jörg G Werner1,2,3
1Department of Mechanical Engineering, Boston University, 110 Cummington Mall, Boston, Massachusetts 02215, United States.
ACS Nano
|July 13, 2024
Summary
Chemically nanostructured organogels (xBCP) with ordered morphologies were created, enabling precise control over chemical reactions through nanoconfinement. These materials facilitate the synthesis of novel nanostructured carbons via selective infusion templating.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Polymer Chemistry
- Nanotechnology
Background:
- Nature utilizes soft gels with defined chemical activity for reactions, but artificial systems lack this.
- Chemical nanoconfinement in gels can guide and accelerate reactions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To introduce chemically nanostructured bulk organogels with ordered morphologies.
- To explore their potential for nanoconfined synthesis and fabrication of ordered materials.
Main Methods:
- Fabrication of ordered bulk organogels from self-assembled block copolymers (xBCP) with a selectively cross-linked block.
- Characterization using small-angle X-ray scattering and transmission electron microscopy.
- Demonstration of selective infusion templating (SIT) for synthesizing mesoporous carbon.
Main Results:
- Achieved ordered morphologies (cylinders, gyroidal networks) with structural integrity upon swelling.
- Confirmed retention of periodic block arrangement down to 15 vol % polymer.
- Demonstrated that swelling equilibrium depends on solvent interactions with all nanophases, not just the cross-linked block.
- Successfully synthesized monolithic ordered gyroidal mesoporous carbon using SIT.
Conclusions:
- Chemically nanostructured organogels offer tunable physicochemical properties for creating ordered materials.
- Selective infusion templating with xBCP gels is a viable method for fabricating complex nanostructured materials.
- This approach enables the creation of traditionally hard-to-template materials in periodic nanostructures.
