Direct synthesis of inverse hexagonally ordered diblock copolymer/polyoxometalate nanocomposite films

J Am Chem Soc. 2012 Aug 1;134(30):12685-92. doi: 10.1021/ja304073t. Epub 2012 Jul 19.

Abstract

Nanostructured inverse hexagonal polyoxometalate composite films were cast directly from solution using poly(butadiene-block-2-(dimethylamino)ethyl methacrylate) (PB-b-PDMAEMA) diblock copolymers as structure directing agents for phosphomolybdic acid (H(3)[PMo(12)O(40)], H(3)PMo). H(3)PMo units are selectively incorporated into the PDMAEMA domains due to electrostatic interactions between protonated PDMAEMA and PMo(3-) anions. Long solvophilic PB chains stabilized the PDMAEMA/H(3)PMo aggregates in solution and reliably prevented macrophase separation. The choice of solvent is crucial. It appears that all three components, both blocks of the diblock copolymer as well as H(3)PMo, have to be soluble in the same solvent which turned out to be tetrahydrofuran, THF. Evaporation induced self-assembly resulted in highly ordered inverse hexagonal nanocomposite films as observed from transmission electron microscopy and small-angle X-ray scattering. This one-pot synthesis may represent a generally applicable strategy for integrating polyoxometalates into functional architectures and devices.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Butadienes / chemical synthesis*
  • Butadienes / chemistry
  • Chemistry Techniques, Synthetic / methods
  • Elastomers / chemical synthesis*
  • Elastomers / chemistry
  • Methacrylates / chemical synthesis*
  • Methacrylates / chemistry
  • Models, Molecular
  • Molybdenum / chemistry
  • Nanocomposites / chemistry*
  • Nanocomposites / ultrastructure*
  • Nylons / chemical synthesis*
  • Nylons / chemistry
  • Phosphoric Acids / chemical synthesis*
  • Phosphoric Acids / chemistry
  • Scattering, Small Angle
  • Spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared
  • X-Ray Diffraction

Substances

  • Butadienes
  • Elastomers
  • Methacrylates
  • Nylons
  • Phosphoric Acids
  • poly(2-(dimethylamino)ethyl methacrylate)
  • Molybdenum
  • polybutadiene
  • phosphomolybdic acid