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Spontaneous organization of supracolloids into three-dimensional structured materials.

Accepted version
Peer-reviewed

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Type

Article

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Authors

Moradi, Mohammad-Amin  ORCID logo  https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3754-9200
Chiappini, Massimiliano 
Rzadkiewicz, Sebastian 
Goudzwaard, Maurits 

Abstract

Periodic nano- or microscale structures are used to control light, energy and mass transportation. Colloidal organization is the most versatile method used to control nano- and microscale order, and employs either the enthalpy-driven self-assembly of particles at a low concentration or the entropy-driven packing of particles at a high concentration. Nonetheless, it cannot yet provide the spontaneous three-dimensional organization of multicomponent particles at a high concentration. Here we combined these two concepts into a single strategy to achieve hierarchical multicomponent materials. We tuned the electrostatic attraction between polymer and silica nanoparticles to create dynamic supracolloids whose components, on drying, reorganize by entropy into three-dimensional structured materials. Cryogenic electron tomography reveals the kinetic pathways, whereas Monte Carlo simulations combined with a kinetic model provide design rules to form the supracolloids and control the kinetic pathways. This approach may be useful to fabricate hierarchical hybrid materials for distinct technological applications.

Description

Keywords

3403 Macromolecular and Materials Chemistry, 40 Engineering, 34 Chemical Sciences

Journal Title

Nat Mater

Conference Name

Journal ISSN

1476-1122
1476-4660

Volume Title

20

Publisher

Springer Science and Business Media LLC

Rights

All rights reserved