Induced micellization by interaction of poly(2-vinylpyridine)-block-poly(ethylene oxide) with metal compounds. Micelle characteristics and metal nanoparticle formation

Interaction of poly(2-vinylpyridine)-poly(ethylene oxide) (P2VP-b-PEO) dibl ock copolymers with noble metal compounds in aqueous media and metal nanopa rticle formation in such systems were studied. In all cases, the characteri stics of the micelles filled with metal compounds strongly depend on the na ture and geometry of the metal compound, which, in turn, influences the mor phology of the finally produced metal nanoparticles. Metal compound additio n induces micellization even at very low pH values, where the P2VP-b-PEO bl ock copolymers are dissolved molecularly. The driving force of such a micel lization is the coordination of VP units with metal ions, which proceeds by three different basic scenarios, depending on the type of metal compound a nd the pH of the medium. In all the cases the P2VP-b-PEO micelles containin g metal compounds work as "nanoreactors" for metal nanoparticle formation.