Generalized fabrication of two-dimensional non-close-packed colloidal crystals

In this paper we report a generalized templating approach for fabricating wafer-scale, two-dimensional, non-close-packed (ncp) colloidal crystals. Polymer nanocomposites consisting of monolayer ncp colloidal crystals prepared by a spin-coating process are used as sacrificial templates. After removal of the colloidal silica templates, the voids in the polymer matrix are infiltrated with other materials. By plasma-etching the polymer matrix, wafer-scale ncp colloidal crystals from a variety of functional materials can be made. This technique is scalable and compatible with standard microfabrication. Two-component colloidal arrays with complex micropatterns can also be fabricated by combining microfabrication with this templating approach. Normal-incidence reflectivity spectra of replicated titania ncp arrays agree well with theoretical prediction using Scalar Wave Approximation.     

Large-scale fabrication of periodic nanostructured materials by using hexagonal non-close-packed colloidal crystals as templates

This letter reports a versatile nonlithographic technique for mass fabricating three types of technologically important materials-polymer microwell arrays, 2D-ordered magnetic nanodots, and semiconductor nanopillar arrays, each with high crystalline qualities and wafer-scale sizes. Spin-coated hexagonal non-close-packed silica colloidal crystals embedded in a polymer matrix are used as starting templates to create 2D polymeric microwell arrays. These through-hole arrays can then be used as second-generation templates to make periodic magnetic nanodots and semiconductor nanopillars. This self-assembly approach is compatible with standard semiconductor microfabrication, and complex micropatterns can be created for potential device applications. The wafer-scale technique may find important applications in biomicroanalysis, high-density magnetic recording media, and microphotonics.     

Inverse opal photonic crystal of chalcogenide glass by solution processing

Chalcogenide opal and inverse opal photonic crystals were successfully fabricated by low-cost and low-temperature solution-based process, which is well developed in polymer films processing. Highly ordered silica colloidal crystal films were successfully infilled with nano-colloidal solution of the high refractive index As(30)S(70) chalcogenide glass by using spin-coating method. The silica/As-S opal film was etched in HF acid to dissolve the silica opal template and fabricate the inverse opal As-S photonic crystal. Both, the infilled silica/As-S opal film (Δn ~ 0.84 near λ=770 nm) and the inverse opal As-S photonic structure (Δn ~ 1.26 near λ=660 nm) had significantly enhanced reflectivity values and wider photonic bandgaps in comparison with the silica opal film template (Δn ~ 0.434 near λ=600 nm). The key aspects of opal film preparation by spin-coating of nano-colloidal chalcogenide glass solution are discussed. The solution fabricated "inorganic polymer" opal and the inverse opal structures exceed photonic properties of silica or any organic polymer opal film. The fabricated photonic structures are proposed for designing novel flexible colloidal crystal laser devices, photonic waveguides and chemical sensors.     

Nonspherical colloidal crystals fabricated by the thermal pressing of colloidal crystal chips

Nonspherical colloids and their ordered arrays may be more attractive in applications such as photonic crystals than their spherical counterparts because of their lower symmetries, although such structures are difficult to achieve. In this letter, we describe the fabrication and characterization of colloidal crystals constructed from nonspherical polyhedrons. We fabricated such nonspherical colloidal crystals by pressing spherical polymer colloidal crystal chips at a temperature slightly lower than the glass-transition temperature (T(g)) of these polymer colloids. During this process, the polymer microspheres were distinctively transformed into polyhedrons according to their crystal structures, whereas the long-range order of the 3D lattice was essentially preserved. Because a working temperature lower than T(g) effectively prevented the colloidal crystals from fusing into films, the spherical colloidal crystals were transformed greatly under pressure, which lead to obvious change in the optical properties of colloidal crystals. Besides their special symmetry and optical properties, these nonspherical colloidal crystals can be used as templates for 2D or 3D structures of special symmetry, such as 2D nano-networks. We anticipate that this fabrication technique for nonspherical colloidal crystals can also be extended to nonspherical porous materials.     

Synthesis of Cristobalite Containing Ordered Interstitial Mesopores using Crystallization of Silica Colloidal Crystals

Cristobalite with ordered interstitial dual-sized mesopores was synthesized through the crystallization of silica colloidal crystals composed of monodispersed amorphous silica nanoparticles. An aqueous solution containing both a flux (Na₂O) and a carbon precursor (an aqueous low-molecular weight phenolic resin) was infiltrated into the interstices of silica colloidal crystals. The organic fraction in the nanocomposite was further polymerized and subsequently carbonized in an Ar flow at 750 °C to reinforce the colloidal crystal structure. The thermal treatment resulted in the crystallization of the colloidal crystals into cristobalite while retaining the porous structure. The cristobalite-carbon nanocomposite was calcined in air to remove the carbon and create interstitial ordered mesopores in the cristobalite. The surfaces of crystalline mesoporous silica are quite different from those of various ordered mesoporous silica with amorphous frameworks; thus, the present findings will be useful for a precise understanding and control of the interfaces between the mesopores and silica networks.     

三维有序多孔图案化SiC陶瓷的制备

结合毛细管微模塑技术、模板技术和先驱体转化技术, 以图案化聚二甲基硅氧烷(PDMS)弹性体为模具,以氧化硅凝胶小球为模板, 以液态聚碳硅烷(PCS)为先驱体, 经过氧化硅凝胶小球图案化模板的形成, 先驱体的渗入, 模板中先驱体的交联, 弹性模具的去除, 图案化先驱体的无机化和模板的去除, 制备了图案化多孔SiC 陶瓷.研究结果表明：所制备的图案化多孔陶瓷中, 图案的尺寸受图案化PDMS 弹性模具的控制, 球形孔的孔径可由氧化硅凝胶小球来调节. 图案化陶瓷中球形孔不仅三维有序排列, 而且由于模板中小球的相互接触形成的“窗 口”使球形孔三维贯通.     

Novel and simple route to fabricate 2D ordered gold nanobowl arrays based on 3D colloidal crystals

In this study, we present a new method to fabricate large-area two-dimensionally (2D) ordered gold nanobowl arrays based on 3D colloidal crystals by wet chemosynthesis, which combines the advantages of a very simple preparation and an applicability to "real" nanomaterials. By combination of in situ growth of gold nanoshell (GNSs) arrays based on three-dimensional (3D) colloidal silica crystals, a monolayer ordered reversed GNS array (2D ordered GNS array) was conveniently manufactured by an acrylic ester modified biaxial oriented polypropylene (BOPP). 2D ordered gold nanobowl array with adjustable periodic holes, good stability, reproducibility, and repeatability could be obtained when the silica core was etched by HF solution. The surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) enhancement factor (EF) of this 2D ordered gold nanobowl array could reach 1.27 × 10(7), which shows high SERS enhancing activity and can be used as a universal SERS substrate.     

磺化聚苯乙烯有序孔水凝胶的制备及其模板效应

有序大孔聚苯乙烯材料通过胶体晶模板技术合成, 再经过磺化处理制备得到有序大孔水凝胶体系. 研究了其化学组成和形态. 以溶胶/凝胶制备有序无机材料如二氧化钛对凝胶进行复型, 证明了有序大孔凝胶的形态特征, 同时显示了有序大孔水凝胶作为新型模板制备形态可控的介观尺度有序无机材料的潜力.     

Organized monolayer of thermosensitive microgel beads prepared by double-template polymerization

A 2D close-packed array of thermosensitive microgel beads was prepared by the double-template polymerization method. First, a 2D colloidal crystal of silica beads with 10 microm diameter was obtained by the solvent evaporation method. This monolayer of colloidal crystals can serve as the first template for the preparation of macroporous polystyrene. The macroporous polystyrene trapping the crystalline order can be used as a negative template for fabricating gel beads arrays. A functional surface using thermosensitive poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) gel beads array was fabricated by the double-template polymerization method.     

聚苯乙烯胶晶膜及三维有序大孔SiO2膜的制备及表征

采用垂直沉积法组装了三维聚苯乙烯胶晶膜,并用其为模板制备了三维有序大孔（3DOM）SiO2膜．SEM观察表明,制备的胶晶膜和3DOMSiO2膜具有fcc结构,有序性很好．考察乳液浓度对胶晶膜结构的影响表明,浓度越高,胶晶膜越厚,有序性也越高,膜在30层内都能很好的粘附在载玻片上．通过调整前驱物溶液的浓度和滴加方式,可得到表面为球形或孔状的3DOM SiO2膜．     

三维有序大孔-介孔二氧化硅的可控制备及表征

以聚甲基丙烯酸甲酯(PMMA)胶晶为大孔模板、嵌段共聚物P123为介孔模板,利用双模板剂法进行了三维有序大孔-介孔二氧化硅材料的制备研究。采用SEM、TEM、低角XRD以及N₂吸脱附技术对样品进行了表征。结果表明,通过简单的调控PMMA胶晶模板的组装过程,就可以调变合成材料中的大孔结构,从而轻松地实现可控的制备出具有网状或者层状结构的三维有序大孔-介孔二氧化硅材料,并提出了其可能的形成机理。此外,所制备的三维有序大孔-介孔二氧化硅样品均具有较大的BET比表面积(>550m₂·g^-1),大孔孔径200nm左右,介孔孔径分布集中于3.5nm左右。     

Synthesis of porous carbon balls from spherical colloidal crystal templates

Spherical inverse opal (IO) porous carbon was produced utilizing silica colloidal crystal spheres as templates. The spherical colloidal crystals were obtained through the self-assembly of monodisperse particles inside an emulsion droplet with confined geometry. The templates were inverted using a carbon precursor, phenol-formaldehyde (PF) resol. We demonstrated a two-step synthesis involving the subsequent infiltration of the PF resol precursor into the spherical colloidal crystal template and a one-step synthesis using a silica colloidal solution containing dissolved PF resol. In the former case, the sizes of the IO carbon balls were controlled by the size of the colloidal crystal templates, and diameters of a few micrometers up to 50 μm were obtained. The average diameter of the macropores created by the silica particles was 230 nm. Moreover, meso-/macroporous IO carbon balls were created using block-copolymer templates in the PF resol. In the one-step synthesis, the concentration of PF resol in the colloidal solution controlled the diameter of the IO carbon balls. IO balls smaller than 3 μm were obtained from the direct addition of 5% PF resol. The one-step synthesis produced rather irregular porous structures reflecting the less ordered crystallization processes inside the spherical colloidal crystals. Nitrogen adsorption and cyclic voltammetry measurements were conducted to measure the specific area and electroactive surface area of the IO carbon balls. The specific area of the mesopores-incorporated IO carbon balls was 1.3 times higher than that of bare IO carbon balls. Accordingly, the meso-/macroporous porous carbon balls exhibited higher electrocatalytic properties than the macroporous carbon balls.     

微凝胶胶体晶体研究进展

Poly(N-isopropylacrylamide)(PNIPAM)微凝胶粒子是一种软的胶体粒子.和单分散的SiO_2、PS、PMMA等硬的胶体粒子一样,单分散的PNIPAM微凝胶粒子也可以自组装成为高度有序的胶体晶体.微凝胶粒子软物质的特性及其对外部刺激的响应性赋予其不同于硬球的组装行为.微凝胶胶体晶体的高度有序结构及其刺激响应性使其在诸多领域有重要用途.本文分别介绍了三维及二维微凝胶胶体晶体组装的研究进展,并对已开发的基于微凝胶胶体晶体的应用进行了总结.     

Packings of uniform microspheres with ordered macropores fabricated by double templating

Highly uniform 3-D ordered macroporous spheres in regular arrays were produced by a double templating process. The first template of larger silica balls produced the polymer skeleton for guiding the shape and size of the self-assembled superstructure of smaller polymeric balls, which are introduced subsequently into the internal space of the skeleton. The second templating with inorganic precursors has created novel superstructured materials, which could open up significant opportunities in a variety of areas ranging from absorbents/catalysts to novel photonic crystals.     

Effect of anionic surfactants on synthesis and self-assembly of silica colloidal nanoparticles

Effects of the anionic surfactants, sodium dodecyl sulfate and sodium oleate, on the formation and properties of silica colloidal nanoparticles were investigated. At a concentration of approximately 1 x 10(-3) M, adsorption of anionic surfactants increased particle size, monodispersity, and negative surface charge density of synthesized silica particles. As uniformity of particle size and particle-particle interactions increase, colloidal photonic crystals readily self-assemble without extensive washing of the synthesized silica nanoparticles. The photonic crystals diffract light in the visible region according to Bragg's law. The assembled colloidal particle arrays exhibit a face-centered cubic structure in dried thin films. This study offers a new approach for producing ordered colloidal silica thin films.     

双模板法制备介孔／大孔复合孔结构硅胶独石

采用双模板法,向正硅酸甲酯的水解体系中同时引入聚乙二醇和三嵌段共聚物,成功制备出具有双连续大孔、同时孔壁中分布着有序介孔的复合孔结构硅胶独石材料. 产物的比表面积高达880 m2/g, 大孔孔径为0.2～5 μm, 介孔高度集中地分布在 5 nm. 结合物理吸附、扫描电镜、粉末X射线衍射和透射电镜等表征手段,发现合成条件如原料组成、反应温度和pH值等对反应体系中凝胶化转变和相分离发生的相对速度有重要影响,进而影响产物复合孔结构的生成. 此外,通过对合成条件的优化,一方面增强了无机骨架的强度,另一方面降低了湿凝胶干燥过程中的毛细管压力降,有效缓和了凝胶结构在干燥过程中的开裂和变形,使复合孔结构硅胶独石在厘米尺度内具有良好的整体性能.     

Characterization of polymer-silica nanocomposite particles with core-shell morphologies using Monte Carlo simulations and small angle X-ray scattering

A two-population model based on standard small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) equations is verified for the analysis of core-shell structures comprising spherical colloidal particles with particulate shells. First, Monte Carlo simulations of core-shell structures are performed to demonstrate the applicability of the model. Three possible shell packings are considered: ordered silica shells due to either charge-dependent repulsive or size-dependent Lennard-Jones interactions or randomly arranged silica particles. In most cases, the two-population model produces an excellent fit to calculated SAXS patterns for the simulated core-shell structures, together with a good correlation between the fitting parameters and structural parameters used for the simulation. The limits of application are discussed, and then, this two-population model is applied to the analysis of well-defined core-shell vinyl polymer/silica nanocomposite particles, where the shell comprises a monolayer of spherical silica nanoparticles. Comprehensive SAXS analysis of a series of poly(styrene-co-n-butyl acrylate)/silica colloidal nanocomposite particles (prepared by the in situ emulsion copolymerization of styrene and n-butyl acrylate in the presence of a glycerol-functionalized silica sol) allows the overall core-shell particle diameter, the copolymer latex core diameter and polydispersity, the mean silica shell thickness, the mean silica diameter and polydispersity, the volume fractions of the two components, the silica packing density, and the silica shell structure to be obtained. These experimental SAXS results are consistent with electron microscopy, dynamic light scattering, thermogravimetry, helium pycnometry, and BET surface area studies. The high electron density contrast between the (co)polymer and the silica components, together with the relatively low polydispersity of these core-shell nanocomposite particles, makes SAXS ideally suited for the characterization of this system. Moreover, these results can be generalized for other types of core-shell colloidal particles.     

Block copolymers under periodic, strong three-dimensional confinement

In this communication we study the influence of strong 3D confinement on the self-assembly of diblock copolymers containing a polyferrocenylsilane metallopolymer segment. Both silica colloidal crystals and silica inverse colloidal crystals, having nanometer-scale interconnected pore networks, are used as molds to direct the self-assembly. Unusual morphologies, such as concentric shells and branched lamellae, result from the interaction of the polymer with the high surface area topologically periodic templates.     

The Critical Effect of Niobium Doping on the Formation of Mesostructured TiO2: Single‐Crystalline Ordered Mesoporous Nb‐TiO2 and Plate‐like Nb‐TiO2 with Ordered Mesoscale Dimples

Highly ordered mesoporous niobium‐doped TiO₂ with a single‐crystalline framework was prepared by using silica colloidal crystals with ca. 30 nm in diameter as templates. The preparation of colloidal crystals composed of uniform silica nanoparticles is a key to obtain highly ordered mesoporous Nb‐doped TiO₂. The XPS measurements of Nb‐doped TiO₂ showed the presence of Nb⁵⁺ and correspondingly Ti³⁺. With the increase in the amount of doped Nb, the crystalline phase of the product was converted from rutile into anatase, and the lattice spacings of both rutile and anatase phases increased. Surprisingly, the increase in the amount of Nb led to the formation of plate‐like TiO₂ with dimpled surfaces on one side, which was directly replicated from the surfaces of the colloidal silica crystals.     

Effects of stretching on microstructures of polymer-immobilized non-close-packed colloidal crystalline array

Non-close-packed silica colloidal crystalline array was immobilized by polymer, and effects of stretching on the change of the optical properties and microstructure of the colloidal crystalline arrays have been demonstrated. The immobilization was a two-step polymerization process: the first step was with hydrophilic polyethylene glycol acrylate (PEGA) polymer gel, and the second step was with 2-hydroxyethyl acrylate polymer matrix. The structure of the three-dimensional array was maintained during the immobilizing process with lock in periodic order. The peak wavelength of Bragg diffraction of the polymer-immobilized colloidal crystalline array shifted to shorter wavelength with stretching. The peak shift was caused by the compression of the polymer proportional to the stretching ratio, and the compression was homogeneous throughout the polymer-immobilized colloidal crystalline arrays. These results show that by using polymer-immobilized non-close-packed colloidal crystalline array, mechanically tunable photonic crystals can be realized, and they open the possibility of tuning the microstructure of colloidal crystalline array for photonic crystal.