The sequential layer by layer self‐assembly of block copolymer (BCP) nanopatterns is an effective approach to construct 3D nanostructures. Here large‐scale highly ordered metal nanoarrays prepared from solvent annealed thin films of polystyrene‐block‐poly(2‐vinylpyridine) (PS‐b‐P2VP) diblock copolymer are used to direct the assembly of the same BCP. The influence of initial loading concentration of metal precursor, the type of metal nanoparticle (gold, platinum, and silver), and the nanoparticle–substrate interaction on the directed assembly behavior of the upper BCP layer have been focused. It is found that the upper BCP film can be completely directed by the gold nanoarray with P2VP domain exclusively located between two adjacent gold nanowires or nanodots, which behaves the same way as on the platinum nanoarray. While the silver nanoarray can be destroyed during the upper BCP self‐assembly with the silver nanoparticles assembled into the P2VP domain. Based on the discussions of the surface energy of nanoparticles and the interplay between nanoparticle–substrate interaction and nanoparticle–polymer interaction, it is concluded that the effect of immobilization of nanoparticles on the substrate, together with entropy effect to minimize the energetically unfavorable chain stretching contributes to the most effective alignment between each layer.
Materials with Janus structures are attractive for wide applications in materials science. Although extensive efforts in the synthesis of Janus particles have been reported, the synthesis of sub‐10 nm Janus nanoparticles is still challenging. Herein, the synthesis of Janus gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) based on interface‐directed self‐assembly is reported. Polystyrene (PS) colloidal particles with AuNPs on the surface were prepared by interface‐directed self‐assembly, and the colloidal particles were used as templates for the synthesis of Janus AuNPs. To prepare colloidal particles, thiol‐terminated polystyrene (PS‐SH) was dissolved in toluene and citrate‐stabilized AuNPs were dispersed in aqueous solution. Upon mixing the two solutions, PS‐SH chains were grafted to the surface of AuNPs and amphiphilic AuNPs were formed at the liquid–liquid interface. PS colloidal particles decorated with AuNPs on the surfaces were prepared by adding the emulsion to excess methanol. On the surface, AuNPs were partially embedded in the colloidal particles. The outer regions of the AuNPs were exposed to the solution and were functionalized through the grafting of atom‐transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) initiator. Poly[2‐(dimethamino)ethyl methacrylate] (PDMAEMA) on AuNPs were prepared by surface‐initiated ATRP. After centrifugation and dissolving the colloidal particles in tetrahydrofuran (THF), Janus AuNPs with PS and PDMAEMA on two hemispheres were obtained. In acidic pH, Janus AuNPs are amphiphilic and are able to emulsify oil droplets in water; in basic pH, the Janus AuNPs are hydrophobic. In mixtures of THF/methanol at a volume ratio of 1:5, the Janus AuNPs self‐assemble into bilayer structures with collapsed PS in the interiors and solvated PDMAEMA at the exteriors of the structures. 相似文献
Two complemental 2′-phosphorothioate oligo-DNA compounds were used as linker molecules to provide the necessary symmetry-breaking mechanism to direct the assembly of 13 nm Au nanoparticles into aggregates with anisotropic optical properties. 相似文献
Solution‐, melt‐, and co‐axial electrospinning are well‐known methods for producing nano‐ and microfibers. The electrospinning of colloids (or colloid‐electrospinning) is a new field that offers the possibility to elaborate multicompartment nanomaterials. However, the presence of colloids in the electrospinning feed further complicates theoretical predictions in a system that is dependent on chemical, physical, and process parameters. Herein, we give a summary of recent important results and discuss the perspectives of electrospinning of colloids for the synthesis and characterization of multicompartment fibers. 相似文献
We report the simple one‐pot synthesis of size tunable zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) out of an organometallic ZnO precursor using the self‐assembly of solution phase polystyrene‐block‐poly(2‐vinylpyridine) micelles. The resulting hybrid material could be deposited on various substrates in a straightforward manner with the NPs showing size‐dependent absorption and photoluminescence due to the quantum‐size effect. We compare the results to the assembly of preformed NPs which are selectively incorporated in the poly(2‐vinylpyridine) core of the micelles due to the high affinity of ZnO to vinylpyridine.
A three complementary strand oligonucleotide system was employed to assemble two different‐sized, 15 and 25 nm, Au nanoparticles into binary two‐dimensional (2D) structures. First, two non‐complementary strands of phosphate backbone modified oligonucleotides (PM oligo‐DNA) were loaded on the surface of the 15 and 25 nm Au nanoparticles, respectively. Upon the addition of the third linker DNA, which was half complementary to each of the modified DNA, the Au nanoparticles would be assembled to binary 2D aggregates. The number of the 15 nm Au nanoparticles around a 25 nm Au naoparticle can be readily controlled by the length of the DNA helix used. 相似文献
By simply blending two diblock copolymers with the same chemistry but with different compositions one is able to create well‐defined larger soft nanoparticles as well as bimodal soft nanoparticles. Specifically, blending two diblock copolymers in a solvent good for both blocks followed by a gradual introduction of a non‐solvent results in a mixed micelle, larger than their pure block‐copolymer‐forming micelles. The formation of well‐defined larger micelle is due to the balance between the ability of the mixed micelles to assemble or merge in comparison to their pure diblock copolymer micelles. Evidently, the blending ratio, the mixing protocol, and non‐solvent addition rate are crucial to achieving well‐defined larger or bimodal micelles.
The directed self‐assembly of gold nanoparticles through the crystallization of surface‐grafted polyethylene oxide (PEO) in ethanol–water mixtures is described. This process is fully reversible and tunable through either the size of the core or the polymeric coating. Characterization by X‐ray scattering and electron microscopy of the self‐assembled structures reveals order at the nanoscale, typically not the case for thermoresponsive gold nanoparticles coated with lower or upper critical solution temperature polymers. A further novelty is the result of selective binding of calcium ions to the PEO in the fluid state: a reversible thermoresponsive transition become irreversible.
A new method is reported for minimizing the inherent fiber instability in the electrospinning process. The method, dubbed “biased AC electrospinning”, employs a combination of DC and AC potentials and results in highly‐aligned mats of polymer or composite polymer fibers. The relationship between specific processing variables such as the AC frequency and the magnitude of the DC offset was investigated and related to the resulting fiber stability and uniformity. For optimum fiber stability, the AC frequency must fall within a relatively narrow range. The upper and lower frequency limits were measured for a small group of polymers and polymer composites and were qualitatively related to solution properties and processing variables. Potential applications of well‐ordered nanofiber materials include tissue engineering, filtration, drug delivery, and microelectronics.
Working on the chain gang : A simple method for the controlled assembly of metal nanoparticles (Au, Ag, and Pt) into 1D chains (see figure) has been developed based on the electrostatic interaction of negatively charged carboxylic groups on the citrate ions surrounding the NPs and the positively charged chitosan polymer.