Due to the absence of anisotropic directional bonds, the most challenging and intriguing aspects of nanoparticle assemblies is encoding directionally guided assemblies. Typically, van der Waals, electrostatic, depletion and DNA hybridization, and other forces, were utilized. Other examples are “lock-and-key” shape matching colloids resulting in the higher organized structures. In these studies we took advantage of the localized phase separation and surface tension differences within hydrophobic-hydrophilic environments of colloidal particles and produced water dispersible gibbous and inverse-gibbous colloidal nanoparticles. The topography-matching nanoparticles stabilized by opposite charges are capable of forming “gear-like” directional assemblies due to short-range electrostatic interactions and long-range “gear-like” mechanical interlocking. Guided by surface charges, these stimuli-responsive nanoparticles form 2D directional arrays. Upon surface deposition, 3D colloidal structures develop, resulting in critical for many applications crack-free colloidal films.

Stimuli-responsive gibbous and inverse-gibbous colloidal nanoparticles in gear-like assemblies

251st National Meeting (2016)

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