AI Article Synopsis
- Researchers in nanotechnology aim to create organized 3D structures by assembling different types of nanoparticles.
- The paper discusses a novel approach using a liquid crystal phase to produce micron-scale vesicle-like shells made of quantum dots, stabilized by ligand interactions.
- This method can potentially be applied to various nanoparticles, allowing for controlled shell formation during a transition in the liquid crystalline phase, providing a new technique for 3D nano-assemblies.
Article Abstract
A current goal in nanotechnology focuses on the assembly of different nanoparticle types into 3D organized structures. In this paper we report the use of a liquid crystal host phase in a new process for the generation of micron-scale vesicle-like nanoparticle shells stabilized by ligand-ligand interactions. The constructs formed consist of a robust, thin spherical layer, composed of closely packed quantum dots (QDs) and stabilized by local crystallization of the mesogenic ligands. Ligand structure can be tuned to vary QD packing within the shell and made UV cross-linkable to allow for intact shell extraction into toluene. The assembly method we describe could be extended to other nanoparticle types (metallic, magnetic etc.), where hollow shell formation is controlled by thermally sorting mesogen-functionalized nanoparticles in a liquid crystalline host material at the isotropic to nematic transition. This process represents a versatile method for making non-planar 3D nano-assemblies.
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| http://dx.doi.org/10.1039/c4sm02326a | DOI Listing |
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