Amine-functionalized nanoporous thin films from a poly(ethylene oxide)-block-polystyrene diblock copolymer bearing a photocleavable o-nitrobenzyl carbamate junction

The synthesis of a poly(ethylene oxide)-block-polystyrene (PEO-b-PS) diblock copolymer bearing an o-nitrobenzyl carbamate junction is reported via a one-pot atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP)–copper(I)-catalyzed azide–alkyne cycloaddition (CuAAC). The accordingly obtained block copolymer was self-assembled into thin films showing, after solvent annealing, ordered PEO cylinders oriented normal to the film surface and embedded in a PS matrix. In the next step, the easy photocleavage of the o-nitrobenzyl carbamate junction and the subsequent removal of the PEO nanophase were demonstrated. This led to amine-functionalized nanoporous PS thin films as evidenced by the successful coupling of a fluorescent dye bearing a carboxylic acid group. The possibility to obtain fluorescent nanopores was then further exploited to pattern the films using a photolithographic mask