Synthesis of Inorganic/Organic Hybrid Materials via Vapor Deposition onto Liquid Surfaces

Hybrid materials have a multitude of uses in electronics, catalysis, and drug delivery. Here, we combine sputter deposition and initiated chemical vapor deposition onto low-vapor-pressure liquids to fabricate inorganic/organic hybrid materials. We demonstrate that polymer nanoparticles can be decorated with metal nanoparticles and nanoparticle dispersions can be encapsulated within polymer shells or within gel beads. The generality of our synthetic route allows for a variety of hybrid materials to be fabricated by tuning the viscosity of the liquid, solubility of the monomer, and surface tension of the polymer and liquid.