Asymmetric Block Copolymers for Supramolecular Templating of Inorganic Nanospace Materials

Abstract

This review focuses on polymeric micelles consisting of asymmetric block copolymers as designed templates for several inorganic nanospace materials with a wide variety of compositions. The presence of chemically distinct domains of asymmetric triblock and diblock copolymers provide self-assemblies with more diverse morphological and functional features than those constructed by EOn POm EOn type symmetric triblock copolymers, thereby affording well-designed nanospace materials. This strategy can produce unprecedented nanospace materials, which are very difficult to prepare through other conventional organic templating approaches. Here, the recent development on the synthesis of inorganic nanospace materials are mainly focused on, such as hollow spheres, tubes, and porous oxides, using asymmetric triblock copolymers.

Cavitation-enabled rapid and tunable evolution of high-χN micelles as templates for ordered mesoporous oxides

“…[1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10] In all these examples, the size of the micelle largely influences the performance. Micelles have been widely employed for emulsions, drug delivery, nanoreactors, and soft-templates for inorganic nanoparticles.…”

Multi‐Stimuli‐Responsive Polymeric Materials

“…In our on‐going projects, we are focusing on polymeric micelles as templates for nanospace materials, such as nanotubes, hollow nanoparticles, and nanoporous materials 109. Compared to conventional surfactants/block copolymers, they strongly interact with inorganic precursors.…”

Predictable Shrinkage during the Precise Design of Porous Materials and Nanomaterials

“…Using small organic amine and ammonium molecules leads to the formation of zeolites and related microporous materials, 1,2 while periodic meso- 2 and macroporous materials can be obtained using amphiphilic organic molecules (e.g., surfactant, block copolymer) and polymer beads, respectively. [1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12] In the case of zeolitic materials, the periodicity of porous structures is accurately identified by their individual crystal structures. Although more than 200 crystal structures of synthetic zeolites have been reported thus far, the compositional design of frameworks is almost limited to the isomorphous substitution of metal species into their frameworks.…”