Issue 23, 2018

Circular assembly of colloidal nanoparticles at the liquid–air interface mediated by block copolymers

Abstract

The self-assembly of colloidal nanoparticles (NPs) mediated by block copolymers (BCPs) is an efficient way for fabricating nanocomposite superstructures with precise geometric control. Here we report a generalized liquid–air interfacial strategy by exploiting the versatility in tuning the specific affinities between the grafted polymeric ligands and BCPs, enabling the circular assembly of NPs on a liquid surface to afford unique ring-like superstructures. Fe3O4 NPs act as the model system; however, CoFe2O4 and Au NPs are also demonstrated using the proposed assembly method. Functionalizing NPs with a specific polymeric ligand is the key to achieve the circular assembly of NPs, while both the subphase and the solvent annealing temperature have profound influence on the microphase separation behaviors of BCPs and therefore the morphology of the resulting NP assemblies. Moreover, the co-assembly of two types of NPs grafted with distinct polymeric ligands enables unprecendented heterogeneous concentric rings, with each ring consisting of one type of NP.

Graphical abstract: Circular assembly of colloidal nanoparticles at the liquid–air interface mediated by block copolymers

Supplementary files

Article information

Article type
Paper
Submitted
28 Mar 2018
Accepted
12 May 2018
First published
14 May 2018

Nanoscale, 2018,10, 11196-11204

Circular assembly of colloidal nanoparticles at the liquid–air interface mediated by block copolymers

L. Wang, Y. Yang, X. Shen, T. Li, J. Hu, D. Yang and A. Dong, Nanoscale, 2018, 10, 11196 DOI: 10.1039/C8NR02519C

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