Control of Spatial Organization of Gold Nanoparticles Using Cylindrical Nanopores of Block Copolymers Films

In this paper, a sequential process of elaboration of hybrid nanostructured composite films has been proposed. The combination of phase separation in poly(styrene-block-4vinylpyridine) (PS-P4VP) block copolymer leading to the formation of nanopores, and gold nanocolloids synthesis confined in the nanoholes has allowed the facile fabrication of hexagonally arranged gold nanoparticles (NPs) onto silicon wafer. In particular, the nucleation and growth of gold nanoparticles took place within the nanopores, where they are confined in both size and shape the formed Au NPs. The resulting hybrid nanoscomposite has been characterized by Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) and X-Ray Spectroscopy (XPS). This facile and simple process represents an opened pathway to several technologically important materials fabrication such as hierarchical and ordered crystal architectures. Indeed, the approach based on solvent phase, which is particularly attractive due to its low energy requirement, and the safety and environmentally gentle processing conditions.