A simple route to ordered metal oxide nanoparticle arrays using block copolymer thin films

• A wide range of oxide nanoparticles arrays is easily synthesized using PS-b-PVP thin film.
• An alcoholic solution of the precursors is spin coated onto the film.
• Oxide nanoparticles are obtained by thermal annealing.
• All kinds of precursors as long as the precursor is soluble in PVP solvent can be used.
• This strategy can be extended to the synthesis of oxide nanorods.

Oxide nanoparticles arrays are easily synthesized in a 3-steps method including (i) the deposition of poly(styrene)-b-poly(4-vinylpyridine) (PS-b-PVP) thin films, (ii) the selective deposition of inorganic precursors and (iii) the synthesis of oxide nanoparticles and the elimination of the polymer scaffold by thermal annealing. The specific staining of the PVP domains by inorganic precursors is obtained in this study thanks to a simple and fast spin coating process using an alcoholic solution of the precursors. This simple lab-procedure is used to synthesize a wide range of metallic (silicon, titanium, cerium, ruthenium, zinc and manganese) oxides, showing that this method can be extended to the synthesis of all kinds of oxides with all kinds of precursors as long as the precursor is soluble in P4VP solvent. It is shown that this strategy can be extended to the synthesis of oxide nanorods.

Figure optionsDownload as PowerPoint slide