Selective electroless copper deposition within block copolymer microdomains

We demonstrate a method for the directed formation of layered metallic copp er structure within the subsurface morphology of a bulk lamellar block copo lymer. Using an electroless deposition process, copper was selectively depo sited inside the interconnected microdomain network of the water-permeable block containing preloaded palladium ions. The relatively simple process yi elds a novel nanoscale composite consisting of alternating layers of metall ic copper with those of the hydrocarbon block matrix. The extent of the cop per deposition can be controlled by adjusting the deposition rate and depos ition time.