Nanoarchitectonics of all catechol-based AA′-type block copolymer for sequential template application

Abstract AB-type block copolymers (BCPs) containing functional moieties are widely used as templates for assembling nanomaterials. However, conventional AB-type BCP templates typically provide functionality in only 1 phase. Herein, we report the synthesis of an all-catechol BCP, poly(DOPAm-b-protected-DOPAm) (AA′-type BCP), in which both block phases can act as templates for nanomaterial assembly. The p(DOPAm-b-protected-DOPAm) was successfully synthesized via RAFT polymerization, and thin films were fabricated by spin coating. Upon solvent vapor annealing with THF, the films self-assembled into cylindrical microdomains with a periodicity of 14.3 nm. We further demonstrated that this BCP thin film serves as a dual template through Fe³⁺ ion coordination to the catechol moieties and the reduction of metal ions at the protected catechol sites.