1
|
Abstract
Colloidal self-assembly refers to a solution-processed assembly of nanometer-/micrometer-sized, well-dispersed particles into secondary structures, whose collective properties are controlled by not only nanoparticle property but also the superstructure symmetry, orientation, phase, and dimension. This combination of characteristics makes colloidal superstructures highly susceptible to remote stimuli or local environmental changes, representing a prominent platform for developing stimuli-responsive materials and smart devices. Chemists are achieving even more delicate control over their active responses to various practical stimuli, setting the stage ready for fully exploiting the potential of this unique set of materials. This review addresses the assembly of colloids into stimuli-responsive or smart nanostructured materials. We first delineate the colloidal self-assembly driven by forces of different length scales. A set of concepts and equations are outlined for controlling the colloidal crystal growth, appreciating the importance of particle connectivity in creating responsive superstructures. We then present working mechanisms and practical strategies for engineering smart colloidal assemblies. The concepts underpinning separation and connectivity control are systematically introduced, allowing active tuning and precise prediction of the colloidal crystal properties in response to external stimuli. Various exciting applications of these unique materials are summarized with a specific focus on the structure-property correlation in smart materials and functional devices. We conclude this review with a summary of existing challenges in colloidal self-assembly of smart materials and provide a perspective on their further advances to the next generation.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Zhiwei Li
- Department of Chemistry, University of California, Riverside, California 92521, United States
| | - Qingsong Fan
- Department of Chemistry, University of California, Riverside, California 92521, United States
| | - Yadong Yin
- Department of Chemistry, University of California, Riverside, California 92521, United States
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Flemming P, Münch AS, Fery A, Uhlmann P. Constrained thermoresponsive polymers - new insights into fundamentals and applications. Beilstein J Org Chem 2021; 17:2123-2163. [PMID: 34476018 PMCID: PMC8381851 DOI: 10.3762/bjoc.17.138] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2021] [Accepted: 08/10/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
In the last decades, numerous stimuli-responsive polymers have been developed and investigated regarding their switching properties. In particular, thermoresponsive polymers, which form a miscibility gap with the ambient solvent with a lower or upper critical demixing point depending on the temperature, have been intensively studied in solution. For the application of such polymers in novel sensors, drug delivery systems or as multifunctional coatings, they typically have to be transferred into specific arrangements, such as micelles, polymer films or grafted nanoparticles. However, it turns out that the thermodynamic concept for the phase transition of free polymer chains fails, when thermoresponsive polymers are assembled into such sterically confined architectures. Whereas many published studies focus on synthetic aspects as well as individual applications of thermoresponsive polymers, the underlying structure-property relationships governing the thermoresponse of sterically constrained assemblies, are still poorly understood. Furthermore, the clear majority of publications deals with polymers that exhibit a lower critical solution temperature (LCST) behavior, with PNIPAAM as their main representative. In contrast, for polymer arrangements with an upper critical solution temperature (UCST), there is only limited knowledge about preparation, application and precise physical understanding of the phase transition. This review article provides an overview about the current knowledge of thermoresponsive polymers with limited mobility focusing on UCST behavior and the possibilities for influencing their thermoresponsive switching characteristics. It comprises star polymers, micelles as well as polymer chains grafted to flat substrates and particulate inorganic surfaces. The elaboration of the physicochemical interplay between the architecture of the polymer assembly and the resulting thermoresponsive switching behavior will be in the foreground of this consideration.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Patricia Flemming
- Leibniz-Institut für Polymerforschung Dresden e.V., Hohe Straße 6, 01069 Dresden, Germany
- Technische Universität Dresden, 01062 Dresden, Germany
| | - Alexander S Münch
- Leibniz-Institut für Polymerforschung Dresden e.V., Hohe Straße 6, 01069 Dresden, Germany
| | - Andreas Fery
- Leibniz-Institut für Polymerforschung Dresden e.V., Hohe Straße 6, 01069 Dresden, Germany
- Technische Universität Dresden, 01062 Dresden, Germany
| | - Petra Uhlmann
- Leibniz-Institut für Polymerforschung Dresden e.V., Hohe Straße 6, 01069 Dresden, Germany
- University of Nebraska-Lincoln, NE 68588, Lincoln, USA
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Tao H, Galati E, Kumacheva E. Temperature-Responsive Self-Assembly of Nanoparticles Grafted with UCST Polymer Ligands. Macromolecules 2018. [DOI: 10.1021/acs.macromol.8b01058] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/29/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Huachen Tao
- Department of Chemistry, University of Toronto, 80 Saint George Street, Toronto, Ontario M5S 3H6, Canada
| | - Elizabeth Galati
- Department of Chemistry, University of Toronto, 80 Saint George Street, Toronto, Ontario M5S 3H6, Canada
| | - Eugenia Kumacheva
- Department of Chemistry, University of Toronto, 80 Saint George Street, Toronto, Ontario M5S 3H6, Canada
- Institute of Biomaterials and Biomedical Engineering, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario M5S 3G9, Canada
- Department of Chemical Engineering and Applied Chemistry, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario M5S 3E5, Canada
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Mongcopa KIS, Poling-Skutvik R, Ashkar R, Butler P, Krishnamoorti R. Conformational change and suppression of the Θ-temperature for solutions of polymer-grafted nanoparticles. SOFT MATTER 2018; 14:6102-6108. [PMID: 29998246 DOI: 10.1039/c8sm00929e] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
We determine the conformational change of polystyrene chains grafted to silica nanoparticles dispersed in deuterated cyclohexane using small-angle neutron scattering. The cyclohexane/polystyrene system exhibits an upper-critical solution temperature below which the system phase separates. By grafting the polystyrene chains to a nano-sized spherical silica particle, we observe a significant suppression in the Θ-temperature, decreasing from ≈38 °C for free polystyrene chains in d12-cyclohexane to ≈34 °C for the polystyrene-grafted nanoparticles. Above this temperature, the grafted chains are swollen and extended from the particle surface, resulting in well-dispersed grafted nanoparticles. Below this temperature, the grafted chains fully expel the solvent and collapse on the particle surface, destabilizing the nanoparticle suspension and leading to aggregation. We attribute the suppression of the Θ-temperature to a competition between entropic and enthalpic energies arising from the structure of the polymer-grafted nanoparticle in which the enthalpic terms appear to dominate.
Collapse
|
5
|
Zhu M, Liu W, Xiao J, Ling Y, Tang H. Synthesis and UCST-type phase behaviors of OEGylated random copolypeptides in alcoholic solvents. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2016. [DOI: 10.1002/pola.28232] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Mengxiang Zhu
- Key Laboratory of Polymeric Materials and Application Technology of Hunan Province, Key Laboratory of Advanced Functional Polymer Materials of Colleges and Universities of Hunan Province, College of Chemistry, Xiangtan University; Xiangtan Hunan 411105 China
| | - Wenjun Liu
- Key Laboratory of Polymeric Materials and Application Technology of Hunan Province, Key Laboratory of Advanced Functional Polymer Materials of Colleges and Universities of Hunan Province, College of Chemistry, Xiangtan University; Xiangtan Hunan 411105 China
| | - Jiang Xiao
- Key Laboratory of Polymeric Materials and Application Technology of Hunan Province, Key Laboratory of Advanced Functional Polymer Materials of Colleges and Universities of Hunan Province, College of Chemistry, Xiangtan University; Xiangtan Hunan 411105 China
| | - Ying Ling
- Key Laboratory of Polymeric Materials and Application Technology of Hunan Province, Key Laboratory of Advanced Functional Polymer Materials of Colleges and Universities of Hunan Province, College of Chemistry, Xiangtan University; Xiangtan Hunan 411105 China
| | - Haoyu Tang
- Key Laboratory of Polymeric Materials and Application Technology of Hunan Province, Key Laboratory of Advanced Functional Polymer Materials of Colleges and Universities of Hunan Province, College of Chemistry, Xiangtan University; Xiangtan Hunan 411105 China
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Zhu M, Xu Y, Ge C, Ling Y, Tang H. Synthesis and UCST-type phase behavior of OEGylated poly(γ-benzyl-l-glutamate) in organic media. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2015. [DOI: 10.1002/pola.27982] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Mengxiang Zhu
- Key Laboratory of Polymeric Materials and Application Technology of Hunan Province, Key Laboratory of Advanced Functional Polymer Materials of Colleges and Universities of Hunan Province, College of Chemistry; Xiangtan University; Xiangtan Hunan 411105 China
| | - Yanzhi Xu
- Key Laboratory of Polymeric Materials and Application Technology of Hunan Province, Key Laboratory of Advanced Functional Polymer Materials of Colleges and Universities of Hunan Province, College of Chemistry; Xiangtan University; Xiangtan Hunan 411105 China
| | - Chenglong Ge
- Key Laboratory of Polymeric Materials and Application Technology of Hunan Province, Key Laboratory of Advanced Functional Polymer Materials of Colleges and Universities of Hunan Province, College of Chemistry; Xiangtan University; Xiangtan Hunan 411105 China
| | - Ying Ling
- Key Laboratory of Polymeric Materials and Application Technology of Hunan Province, Key Laboratory of Advanced Functional Polymer Materials of Colleges and Universities of Hunan Province, College of Chemistry; Xiangtan University; Xiangtan Hunan 411105 China
| | - Haoyu Tang
- Key Laboratory of Polymeric Materials and Application Technology of Hunan Province, Key Laboratory of Advanced Functional Polymer Materials of Colleges and Universities of Hunan Province, College of Chemistry; Xiangtan University; Xiangtan Hunan 411105 China
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
|
8
|
Thermoreversible UCST-type phase behavior of comb-like poly(N-phenyl maleimide-co-n-octadecyl vinyl ether) in organic media. Colloid Polym Sci 2011. [DOI: 10.1007/s00396-011-2514-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/17/2022]
|
9
|
Abstract
Organic/inorganic nanohybrid materials have attracted particular scientific and technological interest because they combine the properties of the organic and the inorganic component. Inorganic nanoparticles exhibit interesting electrical, optical, magnetic and/or catalytic properties, which are related with their nano-scale dimensions. However, their high surface-to-volume ratio often induces agglomeration and leads to the loss of their attractive properties. Surface modification of the inorganic nano-objects with physically or chemically end-tethered polymer chains has been employed to overcome this problem. Covalent tethered polymer chains are realized by three different approaches: the “grafting to”, the “grafting from” and the “grafting through” method. This article reviews the synthesis of end-grafted polymer chains onto inorganic nanoparticles using “controlled/living” polymerization techniques, which allow control over the polymer characteristics and the grafting density of the end-tethered polymer chains.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Demetra S. Achilleos
- Institute of Electronic Structure and Laser, Foundation for Research and Technology–Hellas, P. O. Box 1527, 711 10 Heraklion, Crete, Greece; E-Mail: (D.S.A.)
- Department of Materials Science and Technology, University of Crete, P. O. Box 2208, 710 03 Heraklion, Crete, Greece
| | - Maria Vamvakaki
- Institute of Electronic Structure and Laser, Foundation for Research and Technology–Hellas, P. O. Box 1527, 711 10 Heraklion, Crete, Greece; E-Mail: (D.S.A.)
- Department of Materials Science and Technology, University of Crete, P. O. Box 2208, 710 03 Heraklion, Crete, Greece
- Author to whom correspondence should be addressed; E-Mail: ; Tel.: +30-2810-545019; Fax: +30-2810-391305
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Gelbrich T, Reinartz M, Schmidt AM. Active Ester Functional Single Core Magnetic Nanostructures as a Versatile Immobilization Matrix for Effective Bioseparation and Catalysis. Biomacromolecules 2010; 11:635-42. [DOI: 10.1021/bm901203z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Thorsten Gelbrich
- Institut für Organische Chemie und Makromolekulare Chemie, and Institut für Herz- und Kreislaufphysiologie, Heinrich-Heine-Universität Düsseldorf, Universitätsstr. 1, D-40225 Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Michael Reinartz
- Institut für Organische Chemie und Makromolekulare Chemie, and Institut für Herz- und Kreislaufphysiologie, Heinrich-Heine-Universität Düsseldorf, Universitätsstr. 1, D-40225 Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Annette M. Schmidt
- Institut für Organische Chemie und Makromolekulare Chemie, and Institut für Herz- und Kreislaufphysiologie, Heinrich-Heine-Universität Düsseldorf, Universitätsstr. 1, D-40225 Düsseldorf, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
11
|
Kaiser A, Dutz S, Schmidt AM. Kinetic studies of surface-initiated atom transfer radical polymerization in the synthesis of magnetic fluids. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2009. [DOI: 10.1002/pola.23740] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
|
12
|
Kaiser A, Liu T, Richtering W, Schmidt AM. Magnetic capsules and pickering emulsions stabilized by core-shell particles. LANGMUIR : THE ACS JOURNAL OF SURFACES AND COLLOIDS 2009; 25:7335-41. [PMID: 19499929 DOI: 10.1021/la900401f] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/20/2023]
Abstract
Polystyrene-covered magnetic iron oxide particles (referred to as FeO(x)@PS) with different shell thickness are used as a novel type of nanostructured stabilizers in the preparation of magnetoresponsive Pickering emulsions. Microscopical methods (optical microscope and flow particle image analyzer) and magnetic characterization (vibrating sample magnetometry) were applied to investigate how the properties of the produced magnetic capsules are influenced by the solid concentration and the molar mass of the polymeric shell. We demonstrate the potential of these emulsions for possible applications, such as transporting and release systems.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Andreas Kaiser
- Institut fur Organische Chemie und Makromolekulare Chemie, Heinrich-Heine-Universitat, Universitatsstr. 1, D-40225 Dusseldorf, Germany
| | | | | | | |
Collapse
|