A New Route to the Formation of Nanoporous Capsules using Block Copolymer Thin Films & Colloids

Keywords:
nanocapsules, MF, multilayer, Au, diblock copolymers

Abstract:
The objective of this project is the preparation of novel porous nanocapsules. Spherical colloidal particles, such as melamine formaldehyde (MF), are coated with a mixture of a multilayer of diblock copolymers/micelles and polymer coated Au nanoparticles, via the so-called layer-by-layer approach (LbL). Diblock copolymers of PDMA-PDEA and PDEA-PMAA [where PDMA: poly(2-dimethylamino)ethyl-methacrylate, PDEA: poly(diethylamino)ethyl methacrylate & PMAA: poly methacrylic acid], as well as PDMA coated Au nanoparticles, are used to create polymeric micellar multilayers on MF particles. The core MF is dissolved, whereas parts of the outside layer- the corona - are cross-linked with BIEE and parts of it are etched away. By using the film on the colloidal particle as a mask for selective etching, the production of novel porous hollow shells can be investigated. The morphology is studied experimentally via the use of instrumentation such as AFM, DLS, TEM, SEM, Nanosizer, -potential and UV-VIS. This new type of porous hollow shells, for which we can have a unique control over their pore size and distribution, can have a variety of applications. They can be used in separation media, in catalysis, in coatings, in drug delivery, even in photonics and a variety of other technologies that rely on porous particles.

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Nanotech 2007 Conference Program Abstract