Kinetically Controlled Site-Specific Self-assembly of Hairy Colloids

Research output: Contribution to journalResearch articleContributedpeer-review

Contributors

  • Shayan Vazirieh Lenjani - , Leibniz Institute of Polymer Research Dresden (Author)
  • Cheng Wu Li - , Leibniz Institute of Polymer Research Dresden (Author)
  • Sezer Seçkin - , Leibniz Institute of Polymer Research Dresden (Author)
  • Tobias A.F. König - , Leibniz Institute of Polymer Research Dresden, TUD Dresden University of Technology (Author)
  • Holger Merlitz - , Leibniz Institute of Polymer Research Dresden (Author)
  • Jens Uwe Sommer - , Clusters of Excellence PoL: Physics of Life, Chair of Theory of Polymers at Interfaces, Leibniz Institute of Polymer Research Dresden (Author)
  • Christian Rossner - , Leibniz Institute of Polymer Research Dresden, TUD Dresden University of Technology (Author)

Abstract

The solvophobicity-driven directional self-assembly of polymer-coated gold nanorods is a well-established phenomenon. Yet, the kinetics of this process, the origin of site-selectivity in the self-assembly, and the interplay of (attractive) solvophobic brush interactions and (repulsive) electrostatic forces are not fully understood. Herein, we use a combination of time-resolved (vis/NIR) extinction spectroscopy and finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) simulations to determine conversion profiles for the assembly of gold nanorods with polystyrene shells of distinct thicknesses into their (tip-to-tip) self-assembled structures. In particular, we demonstrate that the assembly process is highly protracted compared with diffusion-controlled rates, and we find that the assembly rate varies for different thickness values of the polymer shell. Our findings were rationalized using coarse-grained molecular dynamics simulations, which also corroborated the tip-to-tip preference in the self-assembly process, albeit with a uniform polymer coating. Utilizing the knowledge of quantified conversion rates for distinct colloidal species, we designed coassembling systems with different brush thicknesses, featuring “narcissistic” self-sorting behavior. This provides new perspectives for high-level supracolloidal self-assembly.

Details

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)2487-2499
Number of pages13
JournalLangmuir
Volume40
Issue number5
Publication statusPublished - 6 Feb 2024
Peer-reviewedYes

External IDs

PubMed 38180486