Nanoparticles in a capillary trap: dynamic self-assembly at fluid interfaces.

Dynamic self-assembly is an emerging scientific concept aimed to construct artificial systems of adaptative behavior. Here, we present a first nanoscopic system that is able to dynamically self-assemble in two dimensions. This system is composed of charged gold nanoparticles, dispersed at the air-water interface, which self-assemble into a dense monolayer of area of several square centimeters in response to surface tension gradient.

A "nano-windmill" driven by a flux of water vapour: a comparison to the rotating ATPase.

We measure the frequency of collective molecular precession as a function of temperature in the ferroelectric liquid crystalline monolayer at the water-air interface. This movement is driven by the unidirectional flux of evaporating water molecules. The collective rotation in the monolayer with angular velocities ω ~ 1 s(-1) (at T = 312 K) to 10(-2) s(-1) (at T = 285.

Spontaneous self-assembly of partially fluorinated bolaamphiphiles into ordered layered structures.

We developed a simple method for preparation of well-defined films of X-, T- and anchor-shaped bolaamphiphiles. The compounds were judiciously chosen to investigate the influence of the general molecular structure on the self-assembly properties. Precisely calculated (on the basis of Langmuir π(A) isotherms) volumes of chloroform solutions of the compounds of known concentrations were spread (drop-casted) directly onto the surface of water or silicon wafer.

Formation of net-like patterns of gold nanoparticles in liquid crystal matrix at the air-water interface.

Controlled patterning and formation of nanostructures on surfaces based on self-assembly is a promising area in the field of "bottom-up" nanomaterial engineering. We report formation of net-like structures of gold nanoparticles (Au NPs) in a matrix of liquid crystalline amphiphile 4'-n-octyl-4-cyanobiphenyl at the air-water interface. After initial compression to at least 18 mN m(-1), decompression of a Langmuir film of a mixture containing both components results in formation of net-like structures.

Aggregation and layering transitions in thin films of X-, T-, and anchor-shaped bolaamphiphiles at the air-water interface.

Aggregation in Langmuir films is usually understood as being a disorderly grouping of molecules turning into chaotic three-dimensional aggregates and is considered an unwanted phenomenon causing irreversible changes. In this work we present the studies of 11 compounds from the group of specific surfactants, known as bolaamphiphiles, that exhibit reversible aggregation and, in many cases, transition to well-defined multilayers, which can be considered as a layering transition. These bolaamphiphiles incorporate rigid π-conjugated aromatics as hydrophobic cores, glycerol-based polar groups and hydrophobic lateral chains.