Phase behavior of nanoparticle/diblock copolymer complex in a selective solvent

Solvents used for controlling the self-assembly of polymer nanocomposites have a strong influence on the order-disorder and order-order transition temperatures. We have investigated the phase behavior of complexes composed of poly(styrene-b-2-vinylpyridine) (PS-PVP) and thiol-terminated PS stabilized Au nanoparticles in toluene-d (a good solvent for PS) by using small-angle neutron scattering. We observe that the morphologies of the neat and nanoparticle-containing polymer solutions strongly depend on the concentration of nanoparticles and temperature. Comparison of the phase diagrams of the neat and nanoparticle-containing polymer solutions as a function of temperature clearly shows dramatic shifts in the order-disorder and order-order transition temperatures. This dramatic effect can be understood by a model wherein the added nanoparticles that sequester in the preferred PS domains increase the interfacial curvature, leading to the observed changes in the nanostructure of the complex. Some effects are similar to those of the selective solvent such as toluene on the nanostructure of PS-PVP. Knowledge gained from these studies on the effects of nanoparticle concentration and temperature on the phase behavior of the polymer nanocomposites will be valuable for tailoring the physical properties of novel nanocomposites.