A facile and flexible synthesis for colloidal molecules with well-controlled shape and tunable patchiness is presented. Cross-linked polystyrene spheres with a liquid protrusion were found to assemble into colloidal molecules by coalescence of the liquid protrusions. Similarly, cross-linked poly(methyl methacrylate) particles carrying a wetting layer assembled into colloidal molecules by coalescence of the wetting layer. Driven by surface energy, a liquid droplet on which the solid spheres are attached is formed. Subsequent polymerization of the liquid yields a wide variety of colloidal molecules as well as colloidosomes with tunable patchiness. Precise control over the topology of the particles has been achieved by changing the amount and nature of the swelling monomer as well as the wetting angle between the liquid and the seed particles. The overall cluster size can be controlled by the seed size as well as the swelling ratio. Use of different swelling monomers and/or particles allows for chemical diversity of the patches and the center. For low swelling ratios assemblies of small numbers of seeds resemble clusters that minimize the second moment of the mass distribution. Assemblies comprised of a large number of colloids are similar to colloidosomes exhibiting elastic strain relief by scar formation.
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http://dx.doi.org/10.1021/ja8079803 | DOI Listing |
Nanoscale Adv
January 2025
Univ. Bordeaux, CNRS, Bordeaux INP, ICMCB UMR 5026 F-33600 Pessac France
Colloidal chemistry provides an assortment of synthetic tools for tuning the shape of semiconductor nanocrystals. To fully exploit the shape- and structure-dependent properties of semiconductor nanorods, high-precision control on growth and design is essential. However, achieving this precision is highly challenging due to the high temperatures (>350 °C) and short reaction times (<8 minutes) often required for these reactions.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFPrecis Chem
January 2025
Key Laboratory of Applied Surface and Colloid Chemistry of Ministry of Education, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi'an 710119, P. R. China.
Tetra-coordinate boron-based fluorescent materials hold considerable promise across chemistry, biology and materials science due to their unique and precisely tunable optoelectronic properties. The incorporation of the heteroatom boron (B) enables these materials to exhibit high luminescence quantum yields, adjustable absorption and emission wavelengths, and exceptional photostability. This review examines the molecular design and applications of tetra-coordinate boron-based photoactive molecules, highlighting their roles in fluorescence sensing, anticounterfeiting, and imaging.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFACS Nano
January 2025
Department of Chemistry, University of California Berkeley, Berkeley, California 94720, United States.
Understanding charge transport in semiconductor quantum dot (QD) assemblies is important for developing the next generation of solar cells and light-harvesting devices based on QD technology. One of the key factors that governs the transport in such systems is related to the hybridization between the QDs. Recent experiments have successfully synthesized QD molecules, arrays, and assemblies by directly fusing the QDs, with enhanced hybridization leading to high carrier mobilities and coherent band-like electronic transport.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFAdv Biotechnol (Singap)
December 2024
School of Food Science and Technology, State Key Laboratory of Food Science and Resources, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, 214122, Jiangsu, China.
Bio-nanopore technology holds great promise in biomacromolecule detection, with its high throughput and low cost positioning it as an ideal detection tool. This technology employs a unique detection mechanism that utilizes nanoscale pores to rapidly and sensitively convert biological molecules interactions into electrical signals, enabling real-time, single-molecule detection with exceptional sensitivity. This review focuses on the latest advancements in this technology across various domains, including DNA and RNA sequencing, protein detection, and small molecule identification.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFAnal Methods
January 2025
Key Laboratory of Synthetic and Biological Colloids, Ministry of Education, School of Chemical and Material Engineering, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, Jiangsu 214122, P. R. China.
The field of electrochemical ammonia synthesis has made rapid advancements, attracting a large number of scientists to contribute to this area of research. Accurate detection of ammonia is crucial in this process for evaluating the efficiency and selectivity of electrocatalysts. In this study, we systematically investigate the indophenol blue method for ammonia detection, examining the effects of key factors such as solution pH, nitrate concentration, and metal ion concentration on measurement accuracy.
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