Block copolymer nanotemplates as versatile platforms for hybrid multifunctional nanostructures

Multifunctional hybrid nanostructures composed of noble metais, semiconductors, metal oxides, and carbonaceous moieties are fabricated based on block copolymer self-assembly coupled with sol-gel process and galvanic displacement reaction. A new protocol for the build-up of multilayers of inorganic nanoparticles constructed by stepwise build-up of amphiphilic micellar nanotemplates is established. Enhanced photocatalytic and optical sensing properties were observed from hybrid metal/semiconductor systems. CNTs with uniformly distributed metal NPs and the corresponding analogue 2-D arrays were also fabricated utilizing direct carbonization of conventional thermoplastic block copolymers.