Facile loading of metal ions in the nanopores of polymer thin films and in situ generation of metal sulfide nanoparticle arrays

Two facile strategies for loading metal ions in the nanopores of polystyrene-b-polyisoprene (PS-b-PI) polymeric thin films have been developed. In the first approach, through the controlled epoxidation of the polyisoprene (PI) component of the template, the hydrophilicity of the interior wall of the nanopores was increased, and the penetration of metal salt solutions into the nanopores was dramatically enhanced. However, thin film damage was observed sometimes during the PI epoxidation. Using a 'fully wetted' method, large capillary forces were suppressed, and the metal ions were easily introduced into the nanopores. The validation of the methods was illustrated for the generation of large-area and high-density CdS and ZnS nanoparticle arrays in nanoporous PS-b-PI polymeric thin films, which were characterized using atomic force microscopy (AFM), field-emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS), electron diffraction (ED), and UV-vis spectroscopy.