Study and modeling of iron hydroxide nanoparticle uptake by AOT (w/o) microemulsions

Control over nanoparticle size is a key factor which labels a given preparation technique successful. When organic reactions are mediated by ultradispersed catalysts, the concentration of the colloidal nanoparticle catalysts and their stability become key factors as well. In this study, variables affecting iron hydroxide nanoparticle size, stability, and maximum possible colloidal concentration in AOT/water/isooctane microemulsions were investigated. Iron hydroxide was prepared in single microemulsions by first solubilizing iron chloride powder in the water pools, followed by addition of aqueous NaOH. Upon addition of NaOH, Fe(OH)3 nanoparticles stabilized in the water pools formed in addition to bulk precipitate of Fe(OH)3. The time-invariant concentration of the stabilized Fe(OH)3 is defined as the nanoparticle uptake, and it corresponds to the maximum possible concentration of the colloidal nanoparticles. The effect of the following variables on the nanoparticle uptake and size distribution was investigated: mixing time; surfactant concentration; water to surfactant mole ratio; and the initial concentration of the precursor salt. At 300 rpm of mixing a constant uptake of iron hydroxide nanoparticles was achieved in about 2 h and further mixing had limited effect on the nanoparticle uptake and particle size. An optimum R was found for which a maximum nanoparticle uptake was obtained. Nanoparticle uptake increased linearly with the surfactant concentration and displayed a power function with the initial concentrations of the precursor salt. The surface area/g of the nanoparticles was much higher than literature values, however, following a trend opposite to that of the nanoparticle uptake. The surface area/unit volume of the microemulsion, on the other hand, followed the same trend as the nanoparticle uptake. The particle size increased as R and/or the surfactant concentration increased. A mathematical model based on correlations for water uptake by Winsor type II microemulsions accurately accounted for the effect of the aforementioned variables on the nanoparticle uptake.     

A novel approach for the preparation of AgBr nanoparticles from their bulk solid precursor using CTAB microemulsions

Microemulsions are suitable reaction media to prepare a wide variety of nanoparticles and provide control over their sizes. However, as typically used, microemulsions limit rates of rapid reactions and suffer from low reactant solubilization capacity. This work presents a new application of a novel approach aimed at minimizing these limitations. This approach, which was previously applied for AgCl nanoparticle preparation, involves solubilization of a bulk silver halide in the form of higher halides, by means of reaction with the surfactant counterion of a microemulsion, and the reprecipitation of silver halide nanoparticles in the water pools of individual reverse micelles. CTAB microemulsions were employed because they possess a reactive counterion and are known to have a high solubilization capacity for ionic reactants. Despite their high solubilization capacity, CTAB microemulsions achieved lower nanoparticles uptake (molar concentration of the colloidal nanoparticles) for the same surfactant concentration when compared to our previous study. The effect of the following variables on the nanoparticle uptake and the particle size was investigated: (1) operation variables, including rate of mixing and temperature; and (2) microemulsion variables, including CTAB and n-butanol concentrations, and water-to-surfactant mole ratio, R. These variables provide a comprehensive test to the proposed mechanism and expose the role of the surfactant layer rigidity. The nanoparticle uptake increased as the rate of mixing, temperature, and CTAB concentration increased, and decreased as n-butanol concentration and R increased. High n-butanol concentration and R values reduced the effective surfactant concentration and contributed to less surfactant layer rigidity and to particle aggregation.     

Effect of microemulsion variables on copper oxide nanoparticle uptake by AOT microemulsions

Ultradispersed metal oxide nanoparticles have applications as heterogeneous catalysts for organic reactions. Their catalytic activity depends primarily on their surface area, which in turn, is dictated by their size, colloidal concentration and stability. This work presents a microemulsion approach for in situ preparation of ultradispersed copper oxide nanoparticles and discusses the effect of different microemulsion variables on their stability and highest possible time-invariant colloidal concentration (nanoparticle uptake). In addition, a model which describes the effect of the relevant variables on the nanoparticle uptake is evaluated. The preparation technique involved solubilizing CuCl(2) in single microemulsions followed by direct addition of NaOH. Upon addition of NaOH, copper hydroxide nanoparticles stabilized in the water pools formed in addition to a bulk copper hydroxide precipitate at the bottom. The copper hydroxide nanoparticles transformed with time into copper oxide. After reaching a time-independent concentration, mixing had limited effect on the nanoparticle uptake and particle size. Particle size increased with increasing the surfactant concentration, concentration of the precursor salt, and water to surfactant mol ratio; while the nanoparticle uptake increased linearly with the surfactant concentration, displayed an optimum with R and a power function with the concentration of the precursor salt. Surface areas per gram of nanoparticles were much higher than literature values. Even though lower area per gram of nanoparticles was obtained at higher uptake, higher surface area per unit volume of the reverse micellar system was attained. A model based on water uptake by Wisor type II microemulsions, and previously used to describe iron oxide nanoparticle uptake by the same microemulsions, agreed well with the experimental results.     

Formation of silver bromide precipitate of nanoparticles in a single microemulsion utilizing the surfactant counterion

Silver bromide precipitate of nanoparticles was prepared by addition of silver nitrate aqueous solution to a single microemulsion system consisting of dioctyldimethylammonium bromide, n-decanol, and water in isooctane. The silver ion reacted readily with the surfactant counterion, bromide, to form the precipitate of nanoparticles, which was stabilized in the water pools. The use of the surfactant counterion as a reactant is a new approach to nanoparticle preparation in microemulsions. It is characterized by high reactivity and less dependency on the intermicellar exchange of solubilizate. The effects of the surfactant and the cosurfactant concentrations, the amount of silver nitrate, and the water to surfactant mole ratio, R, were evaluated. Increasing the surfactant concentration at fixed R and amount of silver nitrate enhanced the role of intermicellar nucleation and resulted in the formation of larger particles, while increasing the amount of silver nitrate at fixed values of all the other variables enhanced the direct nucleation and resulted in the formation of smaller particles. Particle aggregation and flocculation took place when the concentration of n-decanol or the value of R was increased. Particle aggregation and flocculation were attributed to the decrease in the interaction between the surfactant protective layer and the nanoparticles in the water pools.     

F127反相微乳液的组成对AgCl纳米粒子形成及AgCl/F127-PMMA杂化膜结构和性能的影响

以F127为表面活性剂构成的反相微乳液制备AgCl纳米粒子和AgCl/F127-PMMA杂化膜,通过紫外可见光谱(UV-visible)、透射电镜(TEM)研究了微乳液的增容水量(ω)和盐浓度(Csalt)对AgCl粒子形成与形貌的影响;结合表面ζ电位测定、扫描电镜(SEM)分析和溶胀实验等考察了AgCl/F127-PMMA杂化膜的结构和性能。研究结果表明,低ω下盐浓度增加,胶束中AgCl反应速率增大,导致大量小粒径AgCl粒子的形成;高ω下盐浓度增加,将加快AgCl粒子的生长,从而导致胶束中的AgCl粒子粒径增大;各种ω下盐浓度的增加,都会引起胶束中单质Ag的形成。杂化膜的SEM分析显示,AgCl粒子粒径越小,在杂化膜中的分散性越好,膜表面的ζ电位也越高,膜在苯中的溶胀性能也越高;单质Ag的出现和AgCl粒子数目的增多,杂化膜中将显现明显的粒子团聚现象,这极大地影响了杂化膜在苯中的溶胀性能;而杂化膜在环己烷中的溶胀性能较低,且随ω和盐浓度的变化极小。     

Study and Modeling of Metal Oxide Solubilization in (w/o) Microemulsions

Water-in-oil (w/o) microemulsions are very appealing reaction media due to their ability to provide huge surface of contact between water-soluble and oil-soluble reactants. Their application as reaction media, including the preparation of nanoparticles, is, however, limited to water soluble precursors. In this study, we present a first step scheme in a two-step process for the preparation of metal oxide nanoparticles starting from their water-insoluble metal oxide bulk powder. This step involves solubilizing the metal oxide in the water pools of the microemulsion with the aid of a solubilizing agent. The variables affecting the solubilizing capacity of iron and copper oxides, as examples of important metal oxides, in single HCl-containing AOT/water/isooctane microemulsions were investigated. The effect of the following variables on the solubilization capacity is reported, namely, mixing time, surfactant concentration, water to surfactant mole ratio (R), and the nominal concentration of HCl in the water pool. At 300-rpm, time-invariant concentration of the metals in the microemulsions was achieved in about 6 hours. These values were quoted as the solubilization capacity of the metal oxide at the corresponding conditions. Solubilization capacity increased linearly with the surfactant concentration and R, and portrait a power function with the nominal concentration of HCl in the water pool. A mathematical model previously derived to describe nanoparticle uptake by single microemulsion accurately accounted for the effect of the aforementioned variables on the solubilization capacity.     

Polyelectrolyte-modified microemulsions as new templates for the formation of nanoparticles

The paper is focused on the formation and redispersion of monodisperse BaSO₄ nanoparticles in polyelectrolyte-modified microemulsions. It is shown that a cationic polyelectrolyte of low molar mass, e.g. poly(diallyldimethylammonium chloride) (PDADMAC), can be incorporated into the individual inverse microemulsion droplets (L2 phase) consisting of heptanol, water, and an amphoteric surfactant with a sulfobetaine head group. These PDADMAC-filled microemulsion droplets can be successfully used as a template phase for the nanoparticle formation. The monodisperse BaSO₄ nanoparticles are produced by a simple mixing procedure and can be redispersed after solvent evaporation without a change in particle dimensions. Dynamic and electrophoretical light scattering in combination with sedimentation experiments in the analytical ultracentrifuge of the redispersed powder show polyelectrolyte-stabilized nanoparticles with diameters of about 6 nm. The polyelectrolyte shows a “size control effect”, which can be explained by the polyelectrolyte–surfactant interactions in relation to the polyelectrolyte–nanoparticle interactions during the particle growth, solvent evaporation and redispersion process. However, the approach used here opens a way to produce different types of polyelectrolyte-stabilized nanoparticles (including rare metals, semiconductors, carbonates or oxides) of very small dimensions.     

Nanoparticle precipitation in reverse microemulsions: particle formation dynamics and tailoring of particle size distributions

In this work, a detailed experimental analysis of the nanoparticle formation dynamics and the formation mechanism in a reverse microemulsion system is given. The precipitation of barium sulfate nanoparticles inside microemulsion droplets is investigated at the molecular scale with respect to the evolution of the particle size distribution and the particle morphology by an extensive transmission electron microscope (TEM) analysis. Different mixing procedures (feeding strategies) of two reactants, barium chloride and potassium sulfate, are evaluated concerning their ability for a tailored particle design under consideration of the complete particle size distribution (modality and polydispersity). It is shown that improved knowledge about the particle formation mechanisms, the dynamics, and the influence of the colloidal microemulsion structure could be used for a tailored design of particles,for example, controlled synthesis of nanoparticles with a bimodal particle size distribution by the application of a sophisticated feeding strategy.     

Population balance models and Monte Carlo simulation for nanoparticle formation in water-in-oil microemulsions: implications for CdS synthesis

We address controlled CdS nanoparticle formation by tuning experimental synthesis conditions. To this end, a bivariate population balance equation (PBE) model has been developed based on time scale analysis, to explain the mechanism of nanoparticle formation in self-assembled templates. It addresses the process of mixing two water-in-oil (w/o) microemulsions, each containing a pre-dissolved reactant in the microemulsion drops. Brownian collision and coalescence of two water drops of nanometer size results in mixing and exchange of reactant molecules, leading to chemical reaction. The water insoluble reaction product nucleates to form a nanoparticle in an individual drop, which subsequently grows internally by consuming the excess product and by coalescence-exchange with other drops. Finite rates of nucleation and coalescence-exchange are accounted for in the PBE, while the rates of reaction and internal growth of nanoparticles are found to be instantaneous. Experimentally proven binomial redistribution of reactant and product molecules upon drop coalescence is implemented in the present work. This results in a very good prediction of experimental data of the mean aggregate number (MAN) and hence size of CdS nanoparticles. Both our model and Monte Carlo (MC) simulation quantitatively capture the reported variation of MAN with molar excess of Cd2+ concentration and microemulsion drop size. Our results together with previous experimental data establish that usage of stoichiometrically five times or more of excess Cd2+ concentration can cause surface adsorption and desirable enhanced emission intensity of CdS nanoparticles, without altering particle size. We also propose a simplified and computationally efficient univariate PBE model. The univariate model gives very fast (in minutes) and accurate estimates (for low reactant concentrations) of the number and mean size of CdS nanoparticles. Time-scale analysis offers a good a priori choice of the appropriate model based on range of reactant concentrations.     

Study the effect of HLB of surfactant on particle size distribution of hematite nanoparticles prepared via the reverse microemulsion

Hematite nanoparticles have been synthesized via reverse microemulsion route at room temperature. The microemulsion system, contained water, chloroform, 1-butanol, and surfactant, was combined with iron nitrate solution to result iron oxide nanoparticles precipitation. Three technical surfactants, with different structures and HLB (hydrophile–lipophile balance) values were employed and the effects of the HLB values on the hematite particle size were investigated. The prepared particles were evaluated by BET, XRD and TEM techniques. These results showed that the iron oxide particle size and particle size distribution increased with increasing surfactant HLB values.     

Effects of the water content on the growth rate of AgCl nanoparticles in a reversed micelle system

The effects of water content on the growth rate and the final particle size of AgCl nanoparticles in a reversed micelle (RM) system of polyoxyethylene (6) nonylphenyl ether (NP-6)/water/cyclohexane were investigated using a double-jet technique, in which RM solutions of AgNO(3) and KCl were added concurrently to a RM solution containing the excess concentration of chloride ion. As a result, the particle growth rate and the final particle size at a constant Rw ( identical with[water]/[surfactant]) below 5 were found to be in excellent agreement with our theoretical prediction based on a dynamic Ostwald ripening mechanism governed by the overall solubility of the solid and the diffusivity of the reversed micelles, whereas the final particle size was far beyond the size of the water pool of a reversed micelle. Thus, the dramatic reduction of the particle size in the RM system can be explained by the drastic reduction of the overall solubility of the solid and the small diffusivity of the bulky reversed micelles as a carrier of silver ion, and not by the size of the water pool of a reversed micelle as conventionally explained. Some additional contribution of a coagulation process was also suggested in a high Rw range above 5. Significant coagulation of AgCl particles was observed in a RM system with AOT in place of NP-6 even under the standard conditions for the NP-6 system.     

Optimization of dye-doped silica nanoparticles prepared using a reverse microemulsion method

Fluorescent labeling based on silica nanoparticles facilitates unique applications in bioanalysis and bioseparation. Dye-doped silica nanoparticles have significant advantages over single-dye labeling in signal amplification, photostability and surface modification for various biological applications. We have studied the formation of tris(2,2'-bipyridyl)dichlororuthenium(II) (Ru(bpy)) dye-doped silica nanoparticles by ammonia-catalyzed hydrolysis of tetraethyl orthosilicate (TEOS) in water-in-oil microemulsion. The fluorescence spectra, particle size, and size distribution of Ru(bpy) dye-doped silica nanoparticles were examined as a function of reactant concentrations (TEOS and ammonium hydroxide), nature of surfactant molecules, and molar ratios of water to surfactant (R) and cosurfactant to surfactant (p). The particle size and fluorescence spectra were dependent upon the type of microemulsion system chosen. The particle size was found to decrease with an increase in concentration of ammonium hydroxide and increase in water to surfactant molar ratio (R) and cosurfactant to surfactant molar ratio (p). This optimization study of the preparation of dye-doped silica nanoparticles provides a fundamental knowledge of the synthesis and optical properties of Ru(bpy) dye-doped silica nanoparticles. With this information, these nanoparticles can be easily manipulated, with regard to particle size and size distribution, and bioconjugated as needed for bioanalysis and bioseparation applications.     

核-壳结构的氯化银/聚丙烯酰胺复合纳米粒子的制备与表征

用反相微乳液作为模板制备了核-壳结构的氯化锯／聚丙烯酰胺(AgCI／PAM)复合纳米粒子。透射电镜(TEM)证实复合粒子为核-壳结构，平均直径约100nm。扫描电子显微镜(SEM)和X射线衍射分析显示，平均粒径约50nm的AgCl均匀分散在聚合物中。FTIR谱图表明：AgO与PAM之间存在较强的相互作用。用能级探洲光谱(Energy Detected Spectrum，EDS)和润湿分散实验比较了不同方法改性的复合粒子的表面结构与润湿性能。     

粒径可控阳离子型聚苯乙烯纳米粒子的制备及表征

在采用阳离子型双子（gemini）表面活性剂作为乳化剂,不使用任何助乳化剂的条件下,通过改进微乳液聚合工艺制备了窄分布粒径可控的阳离子型聚苯乙烯（PS）纳米乳液。 改进微乳液聚合的主要特点是：大部分苯乙烯以预乳液的形式恒速滴入引发聚合的微乳液中,使用具有高乳化性能的gemini表面活性剂作为乳化剂能明显降低乳胶粒粒径。 实验结果表明,少量阳离子单体三甲基烯丙基氯化铵作为共聚单体能够明显减小Z均粒径、降低粒度分布,乳化剂用量、引发剂用量和反应温度均能影响制备乳胶粒的粒径及其粒度分布。 乳化剂和引发剂用量分别为苯乙烯质量的5%~10%和1.0%~1.5%、反应温度为70~75 ℃时,能够制备粒径小分布窄的阳离子型聚苯乙烯纳米粒子。 Z均粒径与苯乙烯质量之间的线性关系表明,Z均粒径可以通过苯乙烯用量来控制。 不同聚合工艺下制备的聚合物粒度分布曲线表明,改进微乳液聚合工艺（半连续预乳化工艺）在制备窄分布的聚合物纳米粒子方面具有很强的优越性。     

Interaction forces between colloidal particles in a solution of like-charged, adsorbing nanoparticles

We have measured the force between a weakly charged micron-sized colloidal particle and flat substrate in the presence of highly charged nanoparticles of the same sign under solution conditions such that the nanoparticles physically adsorb to the colloidal particle and substrate. The objective was to investigate the net effect on the force profile between the microparticle and flat substrate arising from both nanoparticle adsorption and nanoparticles in solution. The experiments used colloidal probe atomic force microscopy (CP-AFM) to measure the force profile between a relatively large (5 μm) colloidal probe glass particle and a planar glass substrate in aqueous solutions at varying concentrations of spherical nanoparticles. At very low nanoparticle concentrations, the primary effect was an increase in the electrostatic repulsion between the surfaces due to adsorption of the more highly charged nanoparticles. As the nanoparticle concentration is increased, a depletion attraction formed, followed by longer-range structural forces at the highest nanoparticle concentrations studied. These results suggest that, depending on their concentration, such nanoparticles can either stabilize a dispersion of weakly-charged colloidal particles or induce flocculation. This behavior is qualitatively different from that in nonadsorbing systems, where the initial effect is the development of an attractive depletion force.     

Dye-doped silica nanoparticle labels/protein microarray for detection of protein biomarkers

We report a dye-encapsulated silica nanoparticle as a label, with the advantages of high fluorescence intensity, photostability, and biocompatibility, in conjunction with microarray technology for sensitive immunoassay of a biomarker, interleukin-6 (IL-6), on a microarray format. The tris(2,2'-bipyridyl)ruthenium(ii) chloride hexahydrate (Rubpy) dye was incorporated into silica nanoparticles using a simple one-step microemulsion synthesis. In this synthesis process, Igepal CA520 was used as the surfactant, therefore, no requirement of cosolvent during the synthesis and the particle size was reduced comparing to the commonly used Triton surfactant system. The nanoparticles are uniform in size with a diameter of 50 nm. The microarray fluorescent immunoassay approach based on dye-doped silica nanoparticle labels has high sensitivity for practical applications with a limit of detection for IL-6 down to 0.1 ng mL(-1). The calibration curve is linear over the range from 0.1 ng mL(-1) to 10 ng mL(-1). Furthermore, results illustrated that the assay is highly specific for IL-6 in the presence of range of cytokines or proteins. The RuDS dye-labeled nanoparticles in connection with protein microarrays show the promise for clinical diagnosis of biomarkers.     

Photoluminescence of ZnO nanoparticles prepared by laser ablation in different surfactant solutions

ZnO nanoparticles were prepared by laser ablation of a zinc metal plate in a liquid environment using different surfactant (cationic, anionic, amphoteric, and nonionic) solutions. The nanoparticles were obtained in deionized water and in all surfactant solutions except the anionic surfactant solution. The average particle size and the standard deviation of particle size decreased with increasing amphoteric and nonionic surfactant concentrations. With the increase of the amphoteric surfactant concentration, the intensity of the defect emission caused by oxygen vacancies of ZnO rapidly decreased, while the exciton emission intensity increased. This indicates that anionic oxygen in the amphoteric surfactant molecules effectively occupied the oxygen vacancy sites at the ZnO nanoparticle surface due to charge matching with the positively charged ZnO nanoparticles.     

Chloride ion effects on synthesis and directed assembly of copper nanoparticles in liquid and compressed alkane microemulsions

Microemulsions are effective media for solution-based synthesis of metallic nanoparticles where surfactants and other ionic species influence the directed assembly of the nanomaterials with specific sizes, geometries, and compositions. This study demonstrates the effects of chloride ion on the synthesis of copper nanoparticles within the sodium bis(2-ethylhexyl)sulfosuccinate (AOT) reverse micelle system utilizing both liquid isooctane and compressed propane as the bulk solvent. Copper nanoparticle synthesis can be achieved in the presence of HCl in the micelle core, taking advantage of the buffering action of the AOT surfactant. The concentration of chloride ions influence the particle growth rate and dispersion in liquid isooctane. The presence of chloride ions during particle synthesis in compressed propane has a significant effect on the geometry and structure of the copper nanomaterials produced. Chloride ion addition to the compressed propane/Cu(AOT)(2)-AOT/water reverse micelle system at 20 degrees C and 310 bar results in the formation of diamond-shaped copper nanoparticle assemblies. The copper nanoparticle assemblies exhibit unique structure and retain this structure through repeated solvent processing steps, allowing separation and recovery of the assembled diamond-shaped copper nanoparticle structures.     

Forces between surfaces across nanoparticle solutions: role of size, shape, and concentration

Using a surface force apparatus, we have measured the normal forces between mica surfaces across various types of nanoparticles consisting of ZnS cores coated with a monolayer of physisorbed surfactant, dispersed in organic solvents. We focused on the effects of nanoparticle size, shape, and concentration on the force-distance profiles. Forces were exponentially repulsive when the surfactant layers were strongly bound to the nanoparticles and were roughly linear when there was adhesion between the nanoparticle cores, i.e., when the surfactant layers detached from the nanoparticles. In both cases, the range and magnitude of the forces were dependent upon the particle size, shape, and solution concentration. Fine details in the otherwise smooth force-distance profiles indicate specific effects due to particle chemistry and geometry and the existence of first-order disorder-order phase transitions upon confinement. Small amounts of water in the (hydrophobic) organic solvents had dramatic effects on the measured forces. Understanding and controlling the effects of particle shape, size, and concentration and the presence of water (or other surface-active solutes) on particle-particle and particle-surface interactions are important for the processing of nanoparticles into ordered superstructured materials.     

Dissipative particle dynamics simulations of polymer-protected nanoparticle self-assembly

Dissipative particle dynamics simulations were used to study the effects of mixing time, solute solubility, solute and diblock copolymer concentrations, and copolymer block length on the rapid coprecipitation of polymer-protected nanoparticles. The simulations were aimed at modeling Flash NanoPrecipitation, a process in which hydrophobic solutes and amphiphilic block copolymers are dissolved in a water-miscible organic solvent and then rapidly mixed with water to produce composite nanoparticles. A previously developed model by Spaeth et al. [J. Chem. Phys. 134, 164902 (2011)] was used. The model was parameterized to reproduce equilibrium and transport properties of the solvent, hydrophobic solute, and diblock copolymer. Anti-solvent mixing was modeled using time-dependent solvent-solute and solvent-copolymer interactions. We find that particle size increases with mixing time, due to the difference in solute and polymer solubilities. Increasing the solubility of the solute leads to larger nanoparticles for unfavorable solute-polymer interactions and to smaller nanoparticles for favorable solute-polymer interactions. A decrease in overall solute and polymer concentration produces smaller nanoparticles, because the difference in the diffusion coefficients of a single polymer and of larger clusters becomes more important to their relative rates of collisions under more dilute conditions. An increase in the solute-polymer ratio produces larger nanoparticles, since a collection of large particles has less surface area than a collection of small particles with the same total volume. An increase in the hydrophilic block length of the polymer leads to smaller nanoparticles, due to an enhanced ability of each polymer to shield the nanoparticle core. For unfavorable solute-polymer interactions, the nanoparticle size increases with hydrophobic block length. However, for favorable solute-polymer interactions, nanoparticle size exhibits a local minimum with respect to the hydrophobic block length. Our results provide insights on ways in which experimentally controllable parameters of the Flash NanoPrecipitation process can be used to influence aggregate size and composition during self-assembly.