Monolayered organosilicate toroids and related structures: a phase diagram for templating from block copolymers

Here we report the controlled generation of micelle-templated organosilicate nanostructures resulting from self-assembly of a block copolymer/organosilicate mixture followed by organosilicate vitrification and copolymer thermolysis. Variation of solution condition and the copolymer/organosilicate mixture composition generates widely different film morphologies ranging from toroids to linear features to contiguous nanoporous monolayers. The use of reactive organosilicates for block copolymer templation generates functional inorganic nanostructures with thermal and mechanical stability.