A simple route to hierarchically assembled micelles and inorganic nanoparticles.

Earning their stripes: A hierarchical assembly of micelles composed of an amphiphilic diblock copolymer, poly(styrene)-block-poly(4-vinylpyridine) (PS-b-P4VP), were made by combining controlled evaporative self-assembly of the confined PS-b-P4VP toluene solution in a cylinder-on-Si geometry with spontaneous self-assembly of micelles. This method gave microscopic stripes of nanometer-sized PS-b-P4VP micelles within the stripes (see pictures).