Nanostructured polymeric materials for morphology control on nanometer scale and nanotechnology applications

Symmetric and asymmetric poly(styrene-b-methylmethacrylate) (PS-b-PMMA) diblock copolymers (BCPs) were used as template for the incorporation of inorganic nanoparticles and/or organic molecules. Innovative nanocomposites based on a nanostructured block copolymer matrix whose lamellar and cylindrical nanodomains are selectively loaded with inorganic nanoparticles and/or organic molecules, were prepared. This study was aimed to the preparation of neat BCP and nanocomposites thin films by spin-coating and/or drop casting. Techniques as application of external electric fields and solvent annealing were developed in order to improve the morphological order of the neat copolymer and of the nanocomposites. These materials were used as substrates for surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) and as active layers for solar cells.