Templated Synthesis of Composite Rings Using Core‐Shell Toroids

Abstract

In difference to compact objects of a similar size, toroidal structures have some distinguishing properties that originate from their open inner cavity and closed circuit. Here, a general facile methodology is developed to prepare composite rings with varied compositions on a large scale by using core‐shell toroids assembled from tri‐block copolymers of poly(4‐vinyl pyridine) (PVP)/polystyrene (PS)/PVP. Taking advantage of the complexation ability of the PVP shell, varied components that range from polymers, inorganic materials, metals and their compounds, as well as pre‐formed nanoparticles are introduced to the toroidal structures to form composite nanostructures. Metal ions can be adsorbed by PVP through complexation. After in situ reduction, a large number of metal‐based functional materials can be prepared. PVP is alkaline, and thus capable of catalyzing the sol‐gel process to generate an inorganic shell. Furthermore, pre‐formed nanoparticles can also be absorbed by the shell through specific interactions. The PS core is not infiltrative during synthesis, and hollow rings can be derived after the polymer templates are removed.magnified image

New micellar morphologies from amphiphilic block copolymers: disks, toroids and bicontinuous micelles

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Photoluminescent Toroids Formed by Temperature‐Driven Self‐Assembly of Rhodamine B End‐Capped Poly(N‐isopropylacrylamide)

“…The stability of the toroidal structure is attractive in terms of further applications. For example, Wei et al27 used stable polymeric toroids as templates to prepare Au‐, ZnO‐, and ZnO/SiO 2 ‐polymer hollow composite rings. In that study, the RhB cores induced PL characteristics in the prepared toroids.…”

Nanoscale polymer discs, toroids and platelets: a survey of their syntheses and potential applications

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