Controlled incorporation behavior of gold nanoparticles into ABC triblock terpolymer with double-helical morphology

We demonstrated the controlled incorporation of Au nanoparticle grafted with polystyrene (PS) molecules in the helical microdomains of ABC-type linear triblock terpolymers composed of PS, polyisoprene (PI) and poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA). The Au nanoparticles grafted with three PSs with different molecular weights were synthesized and incorporated into the terpolymer films. The morphologies of composite films and localization of Au nanoparticles were three-dimensionally characterized with transmission electron microtomography observation. By varying the molecular weights of grafted PS molecules on Au nanoparticles, their assemblies were successfully controlled in the double-helical microdomains.