Novel structured composites formed from gold nanopartnocles and diblock copolymers

We report a simple procedure to prepare a novel Au-micelle composite with a core-shell-corona structure. This composite is prepared by reduction of tetrachlorclauric acid (HAuCl4 center dot 3H(2)O) in dilute aqueous solution containing polystyrene-block-poly(4-vinylpyridine) micelles and poly(ethylene oxide)-block-poly(4-vinylpyridine) copolymers. The micelles with a polystyrene core and a poly(4-vinylpyridine) shell are transformed into Au-micelle composites with a polystyrene core, a swollen hybrid Au/poly(4-vinylpyridine) inner shell, and a poly(ethylene oxide) Corona by direct physisorption of gold particles with poly(4-vinylpyridine) chains.