Inorganic Gyroid with Exceptionally Low Refractive Index from Block Copolymer Templating

Nanoporous polymers with gyroid nanochannels can be fabricated from the self-assembly of degradable block copolymer polystyrene-b-poly(L lactide) (PS-PLLA) Followed by the hydrolysis of PLLA blocks A well defined nanohybrid material with SiO2 gyroid nanostructure in a PS matrix can be obtained using the nanoporous PS as a template for sol gel reaction After subsequent UV degradation of the PS matrix a highly porous inorganic gyroid network remains yielding a single component material with an exceptionally low refractive index (as low as 11)