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Title: Solvent-Free Synthesis of Janus Colloidal Particles

Journal Article · · Langmuir
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1021/la800895g· OSTI ID:1876383

Taking advantage of the quick and efficient access of vapor to surfaces, a simple, solvent-free method is demonstrated to synthesize Janus colloidal particles in large quantity and with high efficiency. First, at the liquid–liquid interface of emulsified molten wax and water, untreated silica particles adsorb and are frozen in place when the wax solidifies. The exposed surfaces of the immobilized particles are modified chemically by exposure to silane vapor and, in principle, subsequent dissolution of the wax opens up the inner particle surface for further chemical modification. Applying this scheme, this paper describes the production of amphiphilic Janus particles (hydrophobic on one side, hydrophilic on the other) and dipolar Janus particles (positively charged on one side, negatively charged on the other). Janus geometry is confirmed by fluorescence microscopy and flow cytometry. As a result, amphiphilic Janus particles are found to adsorb strongly to the water–oil interface, whereas dipolar particles assemble into chains in the aqueous phase.

Research Organization:
Univ. of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, IL (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE Office of Science (SC), Basic Energy Sciences (BES). Materials Sciences & Engineering Division
Grant/Contract Number:
FG02-07ER46471
OSTI ID:
1876383
Journal Information:
Langmuir, Vol. 24, Issue 18; ISSN 0743-7463
Publisher:
American Chemical SocietyCopyright Statement
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

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