Producing nanoparticles using nanoscale polymer templates
In various aspects provided are methods for producing a nanoparticle within a cross-linked, collapsed polymeric material. In various embodiments, the methods comprise (a) providing a shape-static polymer template with a size in the range between about 1 nm to about 100 nm; (b)) incorporating one or more nanoparticle precursor moieties with the shape-static polymer template; and either (c) oxidizing the precursor moieties to form a composite nanoparticle comprising one or more of an inorganic oxide and hydroxide nanoparticle; or (c) adding an ion with an opposite charge polarity to the at least one nanoparticle precursor moieties to effect formation of a composite nanoparticle.
1. A method for producing composite nanoparticles comprising the steps of:
incorporating a nanoparticle precursor moiety with a shape-static polymer template wherein the template comprises a discrete cross-linked and collapsed polymer and has a size in the range between about 1 nm to about 100 nm; and
oxidizing the precursor moiety to form a composite nanoparticle comprising one or more of an inorganic oxide and hydroxide nanoparticle.
2. The method of claim 1 , where the shape-static polymer template comprises more than one type of monomer.
3. The method of claim 1 , where the shape-static polymer template comprises a combination of two or more different polymer molecules.
4. The method of claim 1 , where the shape-static polymer template comprises monomers with ionizable or ionized groups.
5. The method of claim 1 , where at least about half of the nanoparticle precursor moiety is confined within the shape-static polymer template.
6. The method of claim 1 , where at least about half of the nanoparticle precursor moiety is on the surface of the shape-static polymer template.
7. The method of claim 1 , where the nanoparticle precursor moiety comprises at least one metal species-containing compound.