Chain-like nanostructures from anisotropic self-assembly of semiconducting metal oxide nanoparticles with a block copolymer

摘要

A facile method is reported for the preparation of chain-like nanostructures by anisotropic self-assembly of TiO_2 and SnO_2 nanoparticles with the aid of a block copolymer in an aqueous medium. Well-defined crystallographic orientations between neighbouring nanoparticles are observed in TiO_2 nanochains, which is important for tailoring the grain boundaries and thus enhancing charge transport.