Hierarchical hybrid nanostructures: controlled assembly of polymer-encapsulated gold nanoparticles via a Rayleigh-instability-driven transformation under cylindrical confinement

Abstract

We develop a novel route based on the solution wetting method using anodic aluminum oxide (AAO) templates to fabricate hierarchical hybrid nanostructures assembled from polystyrene-encapsulated gold nanoparticles (Au@PS NPs). Hybrid nanostructures including nanotubes and nanospheres can be reliably prepared, in which the spatial arrangement of the Au@PS NPs is determined by the pore diameters of the templates and the molecular weights of the thiol-ended polystyrene (PS-SH) ligands. In particular, the Rayleigh-instability-driven transformation plays a key role in the formation of the hybrid nanospheres.