Achieving 3-D Nanoparticle Assembly in Nanocomposite Thin Films via Kinetic Control

Journal Article · Mon Feb 20 04:00:00 UTC 2017 · Macromolecules

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.macromol.7b00063 · OSTI ID:1345869

Huang, Jingyu ^[1]; Xiao, Yihan; Xu, Ting

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1. University of California, Berkeley

Nanocomposite thin films containing well-ordered nanoparticle (NP) assemblies are ideal candidates for the fabrication of metamaterials. Achieving 3-D assembly of NPs in nanocomposite thin films is thermodynamically challenging as the particle size gets similar to that of a single polymer chain. The entropic penalties of polymeric matrix upon NP incorporation leads to NP aggregation on the film surface or within the defects in the film. Controlling the kinetic pathways of assembly process provides an alternative path forward by arresting the system in nonequilibrium states. Here, we report the thin film 3-D hierarchical assembly of 20 nm NPs in supramolecules with a 30 nm periodicity. By mediating the NP diffusion kinetics in the supramolecular matrix, surface aggregation of NPs was suppressed and NPs coassemble with supramolecules to form new 3-D morphologies in thin films. Lastly, the present studies opened a viable route to achieve designer functional composite thin films via kinetic control.

• Research Organization: Univ. of California, Berkeley, CA (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE Office of Science (SC), Basic Energy Sciences (BES) (SC-22)
• Grant/Contract Number: AC02-05CH11231
• OSTI ID: 1345869
• Journal Information: Macromolecules, Journal Name: Macromolecules Journal Issue: 5 Vol. 50; ISSN 0024-9297
• Publisher: American Chemical SocietyCopyright Statement
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English