Hybrid Janus Nanotubes with Tunable Internal Pore Size Disassembled from Mesoporous Block Copolymer-based Hybrid Scaffolds

• Published in: Chinese journal of polymer science Vol. 40; no. 10; pp. 1165 - 1172
• Main Authors: Liu, Chang-Xu, Duan, Li-Jie, Yan, Nan, Jiang, Wei
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Singapore Springer Nature Singapore 2022; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Asymmetric structures; Block copolymers; Characterization and Evaluation of Materials; Chemistry; Chemistry and Materials Science; Condensed Matter Physics; Dismantling; Industrial Chemistry/Chemical Engineering; Nanomaterials; Nanoparticles; Nanotubes; Polymer Sciences; Polystyrene resins; Polyvinyl pyridine; Pore size; Reduction (metal working); Research Article; Scaffolds; Mesoporous sheets; Hybrid Janus nanotubes; Inorganic nanoparticles; Block copolymer; Disassembly
• ISSN: 0256-7679; 1439-6203
• DOI: 10.1007/s10118-022-2704-6

The hybrid Janus nanomaterials have captured considerable attention since the asymmetric structure can combine the properties of each component and display synergistic applications. However, the precise design of the specific hybrid Janus nanostructures still remains a formidable challenge. Here, we for the first time report the fabrication of novel and highly uniform inorganic/organic hybrid Janus nanotubes via disassembling the mesoporous inorganic nanoparticles (NPs)/polystyrene-block-poly(4-vinylpyridine) (PS- b -P4VP) hybrid sheets, which are generated through the in situ reduction of functional metal precursors on the prepared PS- b -P4VP mesoporous scaffolds. More importantly, the internal pore size of the hybrid Janus nanotubes can be precisely tuned by readily controlling the swelling time of the PS- b -P4VP sheet-like assemblies in a selective solvent for P4VP domains, thus generating the particular inorganic/organic hybrid Janus nanotubes with adjustable inner diameter size. We believe that our finding will provide an efficient and universal route to fabricate the particular inorganic/organic hybrid nanotubes for hierarchical functional devices and nanomaterials.