Sonderforschungsbereich 481: Publikationen: Nanoparticles at Fluid Interfaces: Assembly, ...

Böker, A.; Lin, Y.; Zettl, H.; Skaff, H.; Cookson, D.; Dinsmore, A.D.; Wang, Q.; Emrick, T.; Russell, T.P.: Nanoparticles at Fluid Interfaces: Assembly, Scattering and Ultrathin Membranes, Macromol. Rapid Commun., 26, F16 (2005)

Abstract:
The fabrication of nanoporous membranes for encapsulation delivery, and size selective sensing requires practical approaches to self-assembly on multiple length scales and the synthesis of robust and permeable structures. Here, we use inorganic (e.g. CdSe) and biological (e.g. Ferritin) nanoparticles as building blocks for the desired composite materials. Liquid-liquid interfaces as found in oil-water emulsions serve as templates to guide the particle self-assembly, followed by crosslinking of the three-dimensional constructs. Experiments along these lines showing the feasibility of the concept have been published recently. Furthermore, we studied the dynamics of the nanoparticle self-assembly and the structures formed at the interface, using a pendant drop tensiometer, fluorescence photobleaching methods and in-situ grazing incidence small angle x-ray scattering (GISAXS). In general, we find a liquid-like behavior and ordering at the interfaces.4 Depending on the nature of the particles and adsorption time, mono- and multilayers are formed. Crosslinking of the nanoparticle assembly using surface functionalities affords robust membranes that maintain their integrity even when they are removed from the interface, while the properties unique to the nanoparticles are preserved.

Sonderforschungsbereich 481

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