Fabrication and modification of ordered nanoporous structures from nanophase-separated block copolymer/metal salt hybrids.

We report facile preparation of nanoporous thin films by rinsing out a metal salt from nanophase-separated hybrid films composed of a block copolymer and a water-soluble metal salt. Nanophase-separated hybrids were prepared by mixing polystyrene-b-poly(4-vinylpyridine) (PS-P4VP) and iron(III) chloride in a solvent of pyridine, followed by solvent-casting and thermal-annealing. Film samples with a thickness of ca. 100 nm were fabricated from the nanophase-separated hybrids by using a microtoming technique. Metal salts in the films were removed by immersion into water to fabricate nanopores. Morphological observations were conducted by using transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Ordered cylindrical nanopores were clearly observed in the thin films prepared from the water-immersed hybrids which originally present cylindrical nanodomains. These nanoporous films were modified by loading another metal salt, samarium(III) nitrate, into the nanopores on the basis of the coordination ability of P4VP tethered to the pore walls. The samples after loading treatment were evaluated by TEM observation and elemental analysis with energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy.