Element spectroscopic imaging of poly(2-vinylpyridine)-block-polyisoprene microdomains containing palladium nanoparticles

The distribution of palladium nanoparticles and their influence on the phas e separation on a poly(2-vinylpyridine)-block-polyisoprene diblock copolyme r were visualized by element spectroscopic imaging in the transmission elec tron microscope. High palladium nanoparticle concentration suppresses the m icrophase separation of the diblock copolymer, while a comparatively low pa lladium nanoparticle concentration still induces the microphase separation where the nanoparticles are exclusively located in the poly(2-vinylpyridine ) microphase. A careful analysis of the palladium particle distribution rev ealed that the palladium particles tend to be located close to the interfac e of the two coexisting microdomains.