The systematic tunability of nanoparticle dimensions through the controlled loading of surface-deposited diblock copolymer micelles

Nanotechnology. 2008 Apr 30;19(17):175301. doi: 10.1088/0957-4484/19/17/175301. Epub 2008 Mar 25.

Abstract

The continuous tunability of iron oxide nanoparticle dimensions is demonstrated using the pH controlled loading of ferric nitrate from aqueous solution into polystyrene-block-polyacrylic acid reverse micelles deposited on a silicon substrate. Quasi-hexagonally ordered two-dimensional arrays of iron oxide nanoparticles with a systematic tunability of particle heights in the sub-10 nm regime and a constant periodicity are obtained and characterized with atomic force microscopy and x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy.