Stabilization and controlled association of inorganic nanoparticles using block copolymers

We report on the structural properties of mixed aggregates made from rare-earth inorganic nanoparticles (radius 20 Å) and polyelectrolyte-neutral block copolymers in aqueous solutions. Using scattering experiments and Monte Carlo simulations, we show that these mixed aggregates have a hierarchical core-shell microstructure. The core is made of densely packed nanoparticles and it is surrounded by a corona of neutral chains. This microstructure results from a process of controlled association and confers to the hybrid aggregates a remarkable colloidal stability.