Fabrication of Polymer−Nanoparticle Composite Inverse Opals by a One-Step Electrochemical Co-deposition Process

Abstract

We describe a one-step electrochemical co-deposition method to prepare nanoparticle (NP)-containing semiconducting polymer inverse opals with well-defined pore structure. Gold and cadmium telluride NPs were electrodeposited along with pyrrole in the interstitial voids of colloidal crystals of polymer spheres, and following template removal, composite inverse opals were obtained. The optical characteristics (position of the optical stopband) of the resulting composite films can be tuned through variation of the type and concentration of the NPs embedded in the film.

Three-Phase Co-assembly: In Situ Incorporation of Nanoparticles into Tunable, Highly Ordered, Porous Silica Films

“…The incorporation of metal nanoparticles into inverse opals has recently attracted particular attention in the literature. 8,[10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17][18][19][20][21] The high surface area and photonic properties of inverse opals coupled with the plasmonic 22,23 or catalytic 24 properties of metal nanoparticles greatly expand the possible applications of these materials as catalysts, 8 sensors, 14,15 photonic structures, [15][16][17][18] and in Surface-Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy (SERS). 20 In most prior investigations, however, inverse opal structures were fabricated by multi-step processes involving assembly of colloidal crystals as sacrificial templates, then infiltrating the structure with a matrix material, such as an appropriate hydrolyzable alkoxide solgel precursor, allowing gelation to take place, and, subsequently, removing the colloidal template by dissolution or thermal decomposition.…”

Hierarchical assembly of CdS nanoparticles in polymer particles with phase separation structures

“…Some studies have shown that QDs can be electrochemically deposited within the voids of assembled colloidal crystals. [12][13][14][15] Alternatively, QDs have been incorporated into submicron spheres using layer-by-layer assembly. 16,17 In these examples, the coupling between QD emission and photonic crystal band gaps has been demonstrated.…”

A Glucose Biosensor Based on Immobilization of Glucose Oxidase into 3D Macroporous TiO2

“…By templating opaline arrays of colloid spheres (typically silica or polystyrene beads), various types of porous materials, such as metal oxides [1], semiconductors [2,3], carbon and silicon [4], and polymers [5], with precisely controlled pore sizes and highly ordered 3D porous structures have been prepared [6]. At present, research interest also concentrated on their potential applications in biosensors, by exploiting the advantages provide by the highly ordered porous structure and the huge surface area they possess.…”