Self-organization of colloidal particles during drying of dispersions is desirable because it provides ordered structures on the solid substrates. These structures influence the optical, wetting, and mechanical properties of thin films. When a droplet of colloidal dispersions dries on a solid surface, a ring-like strain is left, wherein most of the solid materials such as silica or polystyrene are deposited after evaporation. However, for further application, the control of ordered structures of colloidal particles is crucial. Our group has been investigating the self-organization of water-swellable hydrogel microspheres (microgels) during the evaporation of aqueous sessile droplets. The microgels adsorbed and formed two-dimensional ordered structures at the air/water interface during the evaporation of water. The ordered microgels at the interface were transferred onto the solid substrate when the water was almost completely evaporated. In this study, the drying mechanism of the dispersion droplets containing soft and deformable elastomer microsphere was investigated. Our findings of this study would promote further development in fine arrangement of colloidal microspheres.

Self-organization of elastomer microspheres during evaporation of aqueous droplets

ACS Spring Meeting 2021

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