Hybrid materials based on polymer and inorganic components are of increasing importance because of their potential in catalysis, micro-electronics or biomedical applications. For instance, helical architectures may have stronger visible-light absorption capability and a higher catalytic performance as compared to spherical nanoparticles. The great advantage of polymer-templated hybrid materials is the access to complex three-dimensional morphologies on the nanoscale, which are very difficult to achieve through common wet chemical processes. This presentation discusses a synthetic route for nanometer-sized platinum double helices based on ABC triblock terpolymers with a helix-on-cylinder bulk morphology. After film formation of polystyrene-block-polybutadiene-block-poly(tert-butyl methacrylate) (SBT) and cross-linking of the helical B microdomain, the bulk film is re-dispersed into high aspect ratio nanofibers in THF. Selective loading of these multicompartment templates with platinum precursor yields rigid and functional hybrid nanohelices (Figure 1). We follow carbonization in-situ in TEM, analyze the three-dimensional nanostructure by electron tomography, and verify the catalytic performance in model catalytic reactions. The synthesis of multicompartment nano-templates opens up new opportunities to create well-defined, uniform and highly ordered materials for electrical energy storage or nanophotonics with special tailored properties. The multicompartment character further inspires the synthesis of magnetic or bimetallic hybrid materials to extend the range of applications.

Complex inorganic nanomaterials by block terpolymer templating

2019 Fall National Meeting

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