Morphological analysis of self-assembled SIS block copolymer matrices containing silver nanoparticles

The intrinsic ability of block copolymers to self-assemble at nanoordered level into different nanoscale structures has been used in this study to obtain nanocomposites. Ordered architectures of silver nanoparticles confined in a poly(styrene-b-isoprene-b-styrene) (SIS) block copolymer matrix have been generated. Both cetyl trimethylammonium chloride (TMAC) and dodecanethiol (DT) were used as surfactants to obtain dispersed nanocomposite films. Morphologies generated in Ag/SIS nanocomposites, detected through atomic force, resulted to be more dependent on the amount of silver nanoparticles than on the other variables chosen in the present study such as amount and type of surfactant and preparation parameters. The experimental observations are consistent with phase diagram predictions obtained for hybrid systems composed of block copolymers and nanoparticles.