Improving nanoparticle superlattice stability with deformable polymer gels
Name
064901_1_online.pdf
Description
Published version
Size
5.25 MB
Format
Adobe PDF
Checksum (MD5)
3e4d8502d837b35c8bcebd8c86b1d9f1
Author(s)
Lee, Margaret S
Yee, Daryl W
Kubiak, Joshua M
Santos, Peter J
Macfarlane, Robert J
Date Issued
February 10, 2023
Journal
The Journal of Chemical Physics
Publisher
AIP Publishing
Citation
Margaret S. Lee, Daryl W. Yee, Joshua M. Kubiak, Peter J. Santos, Robert J. Macfarlane; Improving nanoparticle superlattice stability with deformable polymer gels. J. Chem. Phys. 14 February 2023; 158 (6): 064901.
Version
Final published version
Abstract
The self-assembly of colloidal nanoparticles into ordered superlattices typically uses dynamic interactions to govern particle crystallization, as these non-permanent bonds prevent the formation of kinetically trapped, disordered aggregates. However, while the use of reversible bonding is critical in the formation of highly ordered particle arrangements, dynamic interactions also inherently make the structures more prone to disassembly or disruption when subjected to different environmental stimuli. Thus, there is typically a trade-off between the ability to initially form an ordered colloidal material and the ability of that material to retain its order under different conditions. Here, we present a method for embedding colloidal nanoparticle superlattices into a polymer gel matrix. This encapsulation strategy physically prevents the nanoparticles from dissociating upon heating, drying, or the introduction of chemicals that would normally disrupt the lattice. However, the use of a gel as the embedding medium still permits further modification of the colloidal nanoparticle lattice by introducing stimuli that deform the gel network (as this deformation in turn alters the nanoparticle lattice structure in a predictable manner). Moreover, encapsulation of the lattice within a gel permits further stabilization into fully solid materials by removing the solvent from the gel or by replacing the solvent with a liquid monomer that can be photopolymerized. This embedding method therefore makes it possible to incorporate ordered colloidal arrays into a polymer matrix as either dynamic or static structures, expanding their potential for use in responsive materials.
MIT Department
Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Department of Materials Science and Engineering
Terms of Use
Creative Commons Attribution
Persistent DSpace Link
DOI of Published Version
https://doi.org/10.1063/5.0130800
