(212e) In-Situ Synthesis of Ordered Nanoparticle Arrays Via Patterned Block Copolymer Nanoreactors with Different Kinds of Reactions

We report a new general and versatile approach for fabricating ordered nanoparticle arrays using patterned hydrophilic nanocores in a block copolymer thin film as in-situ nanoreactors. The water soluble reactants, such as HAuCl4, Zn(Ac)2, FeCl3, could be directly loaded into the hydrophilic nanocores in the thin film of diblock copolymer, poly(styrene-b-4-vinylpyridine), (PS-b-P4VP). The ordered nanoparticle arrays were fabricated by in-situ reaction of loaded reactants in the nanocores. The center-to-center distances of the nanoparticles/nanoclusters could be adjusted by adding PS homopolymer to the diblock copolymer thin film. With this method, three kinds of nanoparticle arrays, including Au, ZnO and FexOy, were synthesized with different chemical reaction mechanisms, including oxidation-reduction, thermal decomposition and double decomposition reactions, respectively. All of nanoparticle arrays could be successfully transferred to silicon substrate by removing the copolymer with calcination or air plasma method.