Shape Transition of Block Copolymer/Gold Nanoparticles Hybrid Vesicles under UV‐Irradiation

Abstract Shape‐changeable inorganic/organic hybrid particles in response to light stimulus have received great interest due to their potential applications in sensors and catalysis. However, the light‐induced precise shape transition of hybrid block copolymer/inorganic nanoparticles (BCP/NPs) particles remains a considerable challenge. Herein, the light‐responsive hybrid BCP/NPs vesicles are fabricated by introducing PS tethered gold nanoparticles (AuNPs@PS) into polystyrene‐o‐nitrobenzyl ester‐polyethylene oxide (PS‐ o‐NBE ‐PEO) scaffolds. Upon UV irradiation, the hybrid PS‐ o‐NBE ‐PEO /NPs vesicles incorporated with smaller AuNPs can transform into hybrid porous spherical particles due to the photocleavage of the o‐NBE bond in PS‐ o‐NBE ‐PEO scaffolds. Besides, attributed to the difference in conformational entropy loss of the BCP/AuNPs co‐assembly system, the eventual distribution of AuNPs and the correspondingly shape‐converted degree of BCP/NPs assemblies depends on the size of NPs. Furthermore, hybrid BCP/AuNPs and BCP/PtNPs assemblies can be prepared by the in situ reduction of metal precursors in BCP templates. Thus, light‐responsive hybrid BCP/NPs particles with various internal structures are generated and the adjustable shape transformation of hybrid BCP/NPs particles is realized by UV stimulus, the obtained results open a unique and promising route to fabricate smart materials.