Novel Structured Composites Formed from Gold Nanoparticles and Diblock Copolymers

We report a simple procedure to prepare a novel Au‐micelle composite with a core‐shell‐corona structure. This composite is prepared by reduction of tetrachloroauric acid (HAuCl₄ · 3H₂O) in dilute aqueous solution containing polystyrene‐block‐poly(4‐vinylpyridine) micelles and poly(ethylene oxide)‐block‐poly(4‐vinylpyridine) copolymers. The micelles with a polystyrene core and a poly(4‐vinylpyridine) shell are transformed into Au‐micelle composites with a polystyrene core, a swollen hybrid Au/poly(4‐vinylpyridine) inner shell, and a poly(ethylene oxide) corona by direct physisorption of gold particles with poly(4‐vinylpyridine) chains.