A novel route for the preparation of discrete nanostructured carbons from block copolymers with polystyrene segments

Well-defined nanostructured carbon was prepared by pyrolysis of core cross-linked micelles formed from block copolymers containing polystyrene segments. These micelles were obtained by self-assembly of poly(ethylene oxide)-block-polystyrene (PEO113-b-PS52) diblock copolymer or brush macromolecules containing polymethacrylate backbone and side chains with PS and poly(acrylic acid) block segments (PBPEM330-g-PS40-b-PAA(111)) in selective solvents. UV irradiation was used to induce cross-linking of the PS core in the micelles. After pyrolysis, the cross-linked PS cores were converted to a partially graphitic carbon, while the shells were sacrificed, resulting in the formation of discrete carbon nano-objects. The formation of carbon material was confirmed by Raman scattering spectroscopy while the morphology of the precursor and the resulting pyrolyzed product was studied by atomic force microscope (AFM).