Well-ordered nanohybrids and nanoporous materials from gyroid block copolymer templates

Abstract

The design of nanostructured materials and their corresponding morphologies has attracted intense attention because of their effectiveness in tuning electronic, optical, magnetic, and catalytic properties, as well as mechanical properties. Although many technologies have been explored to fabricate nanostructured materials, templated synthesis is one of the most important approaches to fabricate nanostructured materials with precisely controlled structures and morphologies from their constituent components. In this review article, we aim to highlight the use of the self-assembly of block copolymers as an emerging and powerful tool to fabricate well-defined nanomaterials with precise control over the structural dimensions and shape, as well as over the composition and corresponding spatial arrangement. After providing a brief introduction to the synthesis of regular porous materials, including silica- and carbon-based mesoporous materials, the review focuses on the fabrication of well-ordered nanoporous polymers from the selfassembly of degradable block copolymers, in particular with gyroid-forming network morphologies, as templates for the syntheses of various materials with different entities. We highlight the principles of different templated syntheses, from the fundamentals to their practical uses in the fabrication of nanohybrids and nanoporous materials; moreover, we provide an introduction to templates, precursors, solvents, and processing. Finally, some recent examples using block copolymer structure-directed nanomaterials for applications, such as solar cells, catalysis, and drug delivery, are presented. In particular, by taking advantage of the “well-ordered” structural characteristics of the gyroid texture, the properties and applications of 3D regular nanostructures, such as the photonic behavior and optical properties of gyroid-forming nanostructures, as well as of gyroid-forming metamaterials, will be emphasized. Special attention is also given to present new developments and future perspectives in this field.