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Arenas Esteban D, Wang D, Kadu A, Olluyn N, Sánchez-Iglesias A, Gomez-Perez A, González-Casablanca J, Nicolopoulos S, Liz-Marzán LM, Bals S. Quantitative 3D structural analysis of small colloidal assemblies under native conditions by liquid-cell fast electron tomography. Nat Commun 2024; 15:6399. [PMID: 39080248 PMCID: PMC11289127 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-50652-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2023] [Accepted: 07/16/2024] [Indexed: 08/02/2024] Open
Abstract
Electron tomography has become a commonly used tool to investigate the three-dimensional (3D) structure of nanomaterials, including colloidal nanoparticle assemblies. However, electron microscopy is typically done under high-vacuum conditions, requiring sample preparation for assemblies obtained by wet colloid chemistry methods. This involves solvent evaporation and deposition on a solid support, which consistently alters the nanoparticle organization. Here, we suggest using electron tomography to study nanoparticle assemblies in their original colloidal liquid environment. To address the challenges related to electron tomography in liquid, we devise a method that combines fast data acquisition in a commercial liquid-cell with a dedicated alignment and reconstruction workflow. We present the advantages of this methodology in accurately characterizing two different systems. 3D reconstructions of assemblies comprising polystyrene-capped Au nanoparticles encapsulated in polymeric shells reveal less compact and more distorted configurations for experiments performed in a liquid medium compared to their dried counterparts. A similar expansion can be observed in quantitative analysis of the surface-to-surface distances of self-assembled Au nanorods in water rather than in a vacuum, in agreement with bulk measurements. This study, therefore, emphasizes the importance of developing high-resolution characterization tools that preserve the native environment of colloidal nanostructures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel Arenas Esteban
- Electron Microscopy for Materials Science (EMAT) and NANOlab Center of Excellence, University of Antwerp, Groenenborgerlaan 171, 2020, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Da Wang
- Electron Microscopy for Materials Science (EMAT) and NANOlab Center of Excellence, University of Antwerp, Groenenborgerlaan 171, 2020, Antwerp, Belgium
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Optical Information Materials and Technology, Institute of Electronic Paper Displays, South China Academy of Advanced Optoelectronics, South China Normal University, Guangzhou, 510006, China
| | - Ajinkya Kadu
- Electron Microscopy for Materials Science (EMAT) and NANOlab Center of Excellence, University of Antwerp, Groenenborgerlaan 171, 2020, Antwerp, Belgium
- Centrum Wiskunde & Informatica (CWI), Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Noa Olluyn
- Electron Microscopy for Materials Science (EMAT) and NANOlab Center of Excellence, University of Antwerp, Groenenborgerlaan 171, 2020, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Ana Sánchez-Iglesias
- CIC biomaGUNE, Paseo de Miramon 182, 20009, Donostia-San Sebastián, Spain
- Biomedical Research Networking Center in Bioengineering, Biomaterials, and Nanomedicine (CIBER-BBN), Paseo de Miramon 182, 20009, Donostia-San Sebastián, Spain
- Materials Physics Center, CSIC-UPV/EHU, Paseo Manuel de Lardizabal 5, 20018, Donostia-San Sebastián, Spain
| | | | | | | | - Luis M Liz-Marzán
- CIC biomaGUNE, Paseo de Miramon 182, 20009, Donostia-San Sebastián, Spain.
- Biomedical Research Networking Center in Bioengineering, Biomaterials, and Nanomedicine (CIBER-BBN), Paseo de Miramon 182, 20009, Donostia-San Sebastián, Spain.
- Ikerbasque, Basque Foundation for Science, 48013, Bilbao, Spain.
- Cinbio, Universidade de Vigo, 36310, Vigo, Spain.
| | - Sara Bals
- Electron Microscopy for Materials Science (EMAT) and NANOlab Center of Excellence, University of Antwerp, Groenenborgerlaan 171, 2020, Antwerp, Belgium.
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2
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Choi YH, Lee J, Amstad E, Kim SH. Influence of Sphericity on Surface Termination of Icosahedral Colloidal Clusters. SMALL (WEINHEIM AN DER BERGSTRASSE, GERMANY) 2024; 20:e2309512. [PMID: 38072633 DOI: 10.1002/smll.202309512] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2023] [Revised: 11/16/2023] [Indexed: 05/18/2024]
Abstract
Colloids self-organize into icosahedral clusters composed of a Mackay core and an anti-Mackay shell under spherical confinement to minimize the free energy. This study explores the variation of surface arrangements of colloids in icosahedral clusters, focusing on the determining factors behind the surface arrangement. To efficiently assemble particles in emulsion droplets, droplet-to-droplet osmotic extraction from particle-laden droplets to salt-containing droplets is used, where the droplets are microfluidically prepared to guarantee a high size uniformity. The icosahedral clusters are optimally produced during a 24-h consolidation period at a 0.04 m salt concentration. The findings reveal an increase in the number of particle layers from 10 to 15 in the icosahedral clusters as the average number of particles increases from 3300 to 11 000. Intriguingly, the number of layers in the anti-Mackay shells, or surface termination, appears to more strongly depend on the sphericity of the clusters than on the deviation in the particle count from an ideal icosahedral cluster. This result suggests that the sphericity of the outermost layer, formed by the late-stage rearrangement of particles to form an anti-Mackay shell near the droplet interface, may play a pivotal role in determining the surface morphology to accommodate a spherical interface.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ye Hun Choi
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST), Daejeon, 34141, Republic of Korea
| | - Jiwoo Lee
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST), Daejeon, 34141, Republic of Korea
| | - Esther Amstad
- Institute of Materials, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, Lausanne, 1015, Switzerland
| | - Shin-Hyun Kim
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST), Daejeon, 34141, Republic of Korea
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3
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Calcaterra HA, Zheng CY, Seifert S, Yao Y, Jiang Y, Mirkin CA, Deng J, Lee B. Hints of Growth Mechanism Left in Supercrystals. ACS NANO 2023; 17:15999-16007. [PMID: 37552879 DOI: 10.1021/acsnano.3c04365] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/10/2023]
Abstract
Supercrystals of DNA-functionalized nanoparticles are visualized in three dimensions using X-ray ptychographic tomography, and their reciprocal spaces are mapped with small-angle X-ray scattering in order to better understand their internal defect structures. X-ray ptychographic tomography reveals various types of defects in an assembly that otherwise exhibits a single crystalline diffraction pattern. On average, supercrystals composed of smaller nanoparticles are smaller in size than supercrystals composed of larger particles. Additionally, supercrystals composed of small nanoparticles are typically aggregated into larger "necklace-like" structures. Within these larger structures, some but not all pairs of connected domains are coherent in their relative orientations. In contrast, supercrystals composed of larger nanoparticles with longer DNA ligands typically form faceted crystals. The combination of these two complementary X-ray techniques reveals that the crystalline assemblies grow by aggregation of smaller assemblies followed by rearrangement of nanoparticles.
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Affiliation(s)
- Heather A Calcaterra
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois 60208, United States
- International Institute for Nanotechnology, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois 60208, United States
| | - Cindy Y Zheng
- International Institute for Nanotechnology, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois 60208, United States
- Department of Chemistry, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois 60208, United States
| | - Soenke Seifert
- Department of Chemistry, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois 60208, United States
| | - Yudong Yao
- X-ray Science Division, Advanced Photon Source, Argonne National Laboratory, Argonne, Illinois 60439, United States
| | - Yi Jiang
- X-ray Science Division, Advanced Photon Source, Argonne National Laboratory, Argonne, Illinois 60439, United States
| | - Chad A Mirkin
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois 60208, United States
- International Institute for Nanotechnology, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois 60208, United States
- Department of Chemistry, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois 60208, United States
| | - Junjing Deng
- X-ray Science Division, Advanced Photon Source, Argonne National Laboratory, Argonne, Illinois 60439, United States
| | - Byeongdu Lee
- X-ray Science Division, Advanced Photon Source, Argonne National Laboratory, Argonne, Illinois 60439, United States
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4
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Structural diversity in three-dimensional self-assembly of nanoplatelets by spherical confinement. Nat Commun 2022; 13:6001. [PMID: 36224188 PMCID: PMC9556815 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-33616-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2022] [Accepted: 09/26/2022] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
Nanoplatelets offer many possibilities to construct advanced materials due to new properties associated with their (semi)two-dimensional shapes. However, precise control of both positional and orientational order of the nanoplatelets in three dimensions, which is required to achieve emerging and collective properties, is challenging to realize. Here, we combine experiments, advanced electron tomography and computer simulations to explore the structure of supraparticles self-assembled from nanoplatelets in slowly drying emulsion droplets. We demonstrate that the rich phase behaviour of nanoplatelets, and its sensitivity to subtle changes in shape and interaction potential can be used to guide the self-assembly into a wide range of different structures, offering precise control over both orientation and position order of the nanoplatelets. Our research is expected to shed light on the design of hierarchically structured metamaterials with distinct shape- and orientation- dependent properties. Nanoplatelets can be used as anisotropic building blocks for constructing novel optoelectronic materials. Here, Wang et al. show a route of assembling nanoplatelets with controllable positional and orientational order in three dimensions facilitated by the surface tension of drying emulsion droplets.
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5
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Spedalieri C, Kneipp J. Surface enhanced Raman scattering for probing cellular biochemistry. NANOSCALE 2022; 14:5314-5328. [PMID: 35315478 PMCID: PMC8988265 DOI: 10.1039/d2nr00449f] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Surface enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) from biomolecules in living cells enables the sensitive, but also very selective, probing of their biochemical composition. This minireview discusses the developments of SERS probing in cells over the past years from the proof-of-principle to observe a biochemical status to the characterization of molecule-nanostructure and molecule-molecule interactions and cellular processes that involve a wide variety of biomolecules and cellular compartments. Progress in applying SERS as a bioanalytical tool in living cells, to gain a better understanding of cellular physiology and to harness the selectivity of SERS, has been achieved by a combination of live cell SERS with several different approaches. They range from organelle targeting, spectroscopy of relevant molecular models, and the optimization of plasmonic nanostructures to the application of machine learning and help us to unify the information from defined biomolecules and from the cell as an extremely complex system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cecilia Spedalieri
- Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Department of Chemistry, Brook-Taylor-Str. 2, 12489 Berlin, Germany.
| | - Janina Kneipp
- Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Department of Chemistry, Brook-Taylor-Str. 2, 12489 Berlin, Germany.
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6
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Areias LRP, Mariz I, Maçôas E, Farinha JPS. Reflectance Confocal Microscopy: A Powerful Tool for Large Scale Characterization of Ordered/Disordered Morphology in Colloidal Photonic Structures. ACS NANO 2021; 15:11779-11788. [PMID: 34240840 DOI: 10.1021/acsnano.1c02813] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
The development of appropriate methods to correlate the structure and optical properties of colloidal photonic structures is still a challenge. Structural information is mostly obtained by electron, X-ray, or optical microscopy methods and X-ray diffraction, while bulk spectroscopic methods and low resolution bright-field microscopy are used for optical characterization. Here, we describe the use of reflectance confocal microscopy as a simple and intuitive technique to provide a direct correlation between the ordered/disordered structural morphology of colloidal crystals and glasses, and their corresponding optical properties.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laurinda R P Areias
- Centro de Química Estrutural and Department of Chemical Engineering, Instituto Superior Técnico, University of Lisbon, 1049-001 Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Inês Mariz
- Centro de Química Estrutural and Department of Chemical Engineering, Instituto Superior Técnico, University of Lisbon, 1049-001 Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Ermelinda Maçôas
- Centro de Química Estrutural and Department of Chemical Engineering, Instituto Superior Técnico, University of Lisbon, 1049-001 Lisboa, Portugal
| | - José Paulo S Farinha
- Centro de Química Estrutural and Department of Chemical Engineering, Instituto Superior Técnico, University of Lisbon, 1049-001 Lisboa, Portugal
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7
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Quantitative 3D real-space analysis of Laves phase supraparticles. Nat Commun 2021; 12:3980. [PMID: 34172743 PMCID: PMC8233429 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-021-24227-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2020] [Accepted: 06/03/2021] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Assembling binary mixtures of nanoparticles into crystals, gives rise to collective properties depending on the crystal structure and the individual properties of both species. However, quantitative 3D real-space analysis of binary colloidal crystals with a thickness of more than 10 layers of particles has rarely been performed. Here we demonstrate that an excess of one species in the binary nanoparticle mixture suppresses the formation of icosahedral order in the self-assembly in droplets, allowing the study of bulk-like binary crystal structures with a spherical morphology also called supraparticles. As example of the approach, we show single-particle level analysis of over 50 layers of Laves phase binary crystals of hard-sphere-like nanoparticles using electron tomography. We observe a crystalline lattice composed of a random mixture of the Laves phases. The number ratio of the binary species in the crystal lattice matches that of a perfect Laves crystal. Our methodology can be applied to study the structure of a broad range of binary crystals, giving insights into the structure formation mechanisms and structure-property relations of nanomaterials. 3D real-space analysis of thick nanoparticle crystals is non-trivial. Here, the authors demonstrate the structural analysis of a bulk-like Laves phase by imaging an off-stoichiometric binary mixture of hard-sphere-like nanoparticles in spherical confinement by electron tomography, enabling defect analysis on the single-particle level.
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8
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Park S, Hwang H, Kim M, Moon JH, Kim SH. Colloidal assembly in droplets: structures and optical properties. NANOSCALE 2020; 12:18576-18594. [PMID: 32909568 DOI: 10.1039/d0nr04608f] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/16/2023]
Abstract
Colloidal assembly in emulsion drops provides fundamental tools for studying optimum particle arrangement under spherical confinement and practical means for producing photonic microparticles. Recent progress has revealed that energetically favored cluster configurations are different from conventional supraballs, which could enhance optical performance. This paper reviews state-of-the-art emulsion-templated colloidal clusters, and particularly focuses on recently reported novel structures such as icosahedral, decahedral, and single-crystalline face-centered cubic (fcc) clusters. We classify the clusters according to the number of component particles as small (N < O(102)), medium (O(102) ≤N≤O(104)), and large (N≥O(105)). For each size of clusters, we discuss the detailed structures, mechanisms of cluster formation, and optical properties and potential applications. Finally, we outline current challenges and questions that require further investigation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sanghyuk Park
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST), Daejeon 34141, Republic of Korea.
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9
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Meldrum FC, O'Shaughnessy C. Crystallization in Confinement. ADVANCED MATERIALS (DEERFIELD BEACH, FLA.) 2020; 32:e2001068. [PMID: 32583495 DOI: 10.1002/adma.202001068] [Citation(s) in RCA: 96] [Impact Index Per Article: 24.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2020] [Revised: 03/26/2020] [Accepted: 03/27/2020] [Indexed: 05/23/2023]
Abstract
Many crystallization processes of great importance, including frost heave, biomineralization, the synthesis of nanomaterials, and scale formation, occur in small volumes rather than bulk solution. Here, the influence of confinement on crystallization processes is described, drawing together information from fields as diverse as bioinspired mineralization, templating, pharmaceuticals, colloidal crystallization, and geochemistry. Experiments are principally conducted within confining systems that offer well-defined environments, varying from droplets in microfluidic devices, to cylindrical pores in filtration membranes, to nanoporous glasses and carbon nanotubes. Dramatic effects are observed, including a stabilization of metastable polymorphs, a depression of freezing points, and the formation of crystals with preferred orientations, modified morphologies, and even structures not seen in bulk. Confinement is also shown to influence crystallization processes over length scales ranging from the atomic to hundreds of micrometers, and to originate from a wide range of mechanisms. The development of an enhanced understanding of the influence of confinement on crystal nucleation and growth will not only provide superior insight into crystallization processes in many real-world environments, but will also enable this phenomenon to be used to control crystallization in applications including nanomaterial synthesis, heavy metal remediation, and the prevention of weathering.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fiona C Meldrum
- School of Chemistry, University of Leeds, Woodhouse Lane, Leeds, LS2 9JT, UK
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10
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van der Hoeven JES, van der Wee EB, de Winter DAM, Hermes M, Liu Y, Fokkema J, Bransen M, van Huis MA, Gerritsen HC, de Jongh PE, van Blaaderen A. Bridging the gap: 3D real-space characterization of colloidal assemblies via FIB-SEM tomography. NANOSCALE 2019; 11:5304-5316. [PMID: 30843546 DOI: 10.1039/c8nr09753d] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Insight in the structure of nanoparticle assemblies up to a single particle level is key to understand the collective properties of these assemblies, which critically depend on the individual particle positions and orientations. However, the characterization of large, micron sized assemblies containing small, 10-500 nanometer, sized colloids is highly challenging and cannot easily be done with the conventional light, electron or X-ray microscopy techniques. Here, we demonstrate that focused ion beam-scanning electron microscopy (FIB-SEM) tomography in combination with image processing enables quantitative real-space studies of ordered and disordered particle assemblies too large for conventional transmission electron tomography, containing particles too small for confocal microscopy. First, we demonstrate the high resolution structural analysis of spherical nanoparticle assemblies, containing small anisotropic gold nanoparticles. Herein, FIB-SEM tomography allows the characterization of assembly dimensions which are inaccessible to conventional transmission electron microscopy. Next, we show that FIB-SEM tomography is capable of characterizing much larger ordered and disordered assemblies containing silica colloids with a diameter close to the resolution limit of confocal microscopes. We determined both the position and the orientation of each individual (nano)particle in the assemblies by using recently developed particle tracking routines. Such high precision structural information is essential in the understanding and design of the collective properties of new nanoparticle based materials and processes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jessi E S van der Hoeven
- Soft Condensed Matter and Biophysics, Debye Institute for Nanomaterials Science, Utrecht University, Princetonplein 1, 3584 CC Utrecht, The Netherlands.
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11
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Magic number colloidal clusters as minimum free energy structures. Nat Commun 2018; 9:5259. [PMID: 30532018 PMCID: PMC6288123 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-018-07600-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 70] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2018] [Accepted: 11/12/2018] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Clusters in systems as diverse as metal atoms, virus proteins, noble gases, and nucleons have properties that depend sensitively on the number of constituent particles. Certain numbers are termed ‘magic’ because they grant the system with closed shells and exceptional stability. To this point, magic number clusters have been exclusively found with attractive interactions as present between atoms. Here we show that magic number clusters exist in a confined soft matter system with negligible interactions. Colloidal particles in an emulsion droplet spontaneously organize into a series of clusters with precisely defined shell structures. Crucially, free energy calculations demonstrate that colloidal clusters with magic numbers possess higher thermodynamic stability than those off magic numbers. A complex kinetic pathway is responsible for the efficiency of this system in finding its minimum free energy configuration. Targeting similar magic number states is a strategy towards unique configurations in finite self-organizing systems across the scales. Magic number cluster with closed shells and increased stability often result from potential energy minimization between attractive atoms or particles. Here, Wang et al. show that such magic number clusters can also result from entropy maximization in colloidal systems with negligible interactions.
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12
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Yang Y, Wang B, Shen X, Yao L, Wang L, Chen X, Xie S, Li T, Hu J, Yang D, Dong A. Scalable Assembly of Crystalline Binary Nanocrystal Superparticles and Their Enhanced Magnetic and Electrochemical Properties. J Am Chem Soc 2018; 140:15038-15047. [DOI: 10.1021/jacs.8b09779] [Citation(s) in RCA: 62] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
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13
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Guzzinati G, Altantzis T, Batuk M, De Backer A, Lumbeeck G, Samaee V, Batuk D, Idrissi H, Hadermann J, Van Aert S, Schryvers D, Verbeeck J, Bals S. Recent Advances in Transmission Electron Microscopy for Materials Science at the EMAT Lab of the University of Antwerp. MATERIALS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2018; 11:E1304. [PMID: 30060556 PMCID: PMC6117696 DOI: 10.3390/ma11081304] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2018] [Revised: 07/25/2018] [Accepted: 07/26/2018] [Indexed: 01/13/2023]
Abstract
The rapid progress in materials science that enables the design of materials down to the nanoscale also demands characterization techniques able to analyze the materials down to the same scale, such as transmission electron microscopy. As Belgium's foremost electron microscopy group, among the largest in the world, EMAT is continuously contributing to the development of TEM techniques, such as high-resolution imaging, diffraction, electron tomography, and spectroscopies, with an emphasis on quantification and reproducibility, as well as employing TEM methodology at the highest level to solve real-world materials science problems. The lab's recent contributions are presented here together with specific case studies in order to highlight the usefulness of TEM to the advancement of materials science.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giulio Guzzinati
- EMAT, University of Antwerp, Groenenborgerlaan 171, Antwerp 2020, Belgium.
| | - Thomas Altantzis
- EMAT, University of Antwerp, Groenenborgerlaan 171, Antwerp 2020, Belgium.
| | - Maria Batuk
- EMAT, University of Antwerp, Groenenborgerlaan 171, Antwerp 2020, Belgium.
| | - Annick De Backer
- EMAT, University of Antwerp, Groenenborgerlaan 171, Antwerp 2020, Belgium.
| | - Gunnar Lumbeeck
- EMAT, University of Antwerp, Groenenborgerlaan 171, Antwerp 2020, Belgium.
| | - Vahid Samaee
- EMAT, University of Antwerp, Groenenborgerlaan 171, Antwerp 2020, Belgium.
| | - Dmitry Batuk
- EMAT, University of Antwerp, Groenenborgerlaan 171, Antwerp 2020, Belgium.
| | - Hosni Idrissi
- EMAT, University of Antwerp, Groenenborgerlaan 171, Antwerp 2020, Belgium.
- Institute of Mechanics, Materials and Civil Engineering, Université catholique de Louvain, Louvain-la-Neuve 1348, Belgium.
| | - Joke Hadermann
- EMAT, University of Antwerp, Groenenborgerlaan 171, Antwerp 2020, Belgium.
| | - Sandra Van Aert
- EMAT, University of Antwerp, Groenenborgerlaan 171, Antwerp 2020, Belgium.
| | | | - Johan Verbeeck
- EMAT, University of Antwerp, Groenenborgerlaan 171, Antwerp 2020, Belgium.
| | - Sara Bals
- EMAT, University of Antwerp, Groenenborgerlaan 171, Antwerp 2020, Belgium.
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14
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Wang D, Hermes M, Kotni R, Wu Y, Tasios N, Liu Y, de Nijs B, van der Wee EB, Murray CB, Dijkstra M, van Blaaderen A. Interplay between spherical confinement and particle shape on the self-assembly of rounded cubes. Nat Commun 2018; 9:2228. [PMID: 29884884 PMCID: PMC5994693 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-018-04644-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 57] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2018] [Accepted: 05/14/2018] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Self-assembly of nanoparticles (NPs) inside drying emulsion droplets provides a general strategy for hierarchical structuring of matter at different length scales. The local orientation of neighboring crystalline NPs can be crucial to optimize for instance the optical and electronic properties of the self-assembled superstructures. By integrating experiments and computer simulations, we demonstrate that the orientational correlations of cubic NPs inside drying emulsion droplets are significantly determined by their flat faces. We analyze the rich interplay of positional and orientational order as the particle shape changes from a sharp cube to a rounded cube. Sharp cubes strongly align to form simple-cubic superstructures whereas rounded cubes assemble into icosahedral clusters with additionally strong local orientational correlations. This demonstrates that the interplay between packing, confinement and shape can be utilized to develop new materials with novel properties. Colloidal nanoparticles self-assembled under spherical confinement can form a rich variety of structures. Here, the authors study the self-assembly of sharp and rounded nanocubes under such confinement, revealing the influence of particle and face geometry on positional and orientational behavior.
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Affiliation(s)
- Da Wang
- Soft Condensed Matter, Debye Institute for Nanomaterials Science, Utrecht University, Princetonplein 5, 3584 CC, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
| | - Michiel Hermes
- Soft Condensed Matter, Debye Institute for Nanomaterials Science, Utrecht University, Princetonplein 5, 3584 CC, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Ramakrishna Kotni
- Soft Condensed Matter, Debye Institute for Nanomaterials Science, Utrecht University, Princetonplein 5, 3584 CC, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Yaoting Wu
- Department of Chemistry, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
| | - Nikos Tasios
- Soft Condensed Matter, Debye Institute for Nanomaterials Science, Utrecht University, Princetonplein 5, 3584 CC, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Yang Liu
- Soft Condensed Matter, Debye Institute for Nanomaterials Science, Utrecht University, Princetonplein 5, 3584 CC, Utrecht, The Netherlands.,Department of Earth Sciences, Utrecht University, Budapestlaan 4, 3584 CD, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Bart de Nijs
- Soft Condensed Matter, Debye Institute for Nanomaterials Science, Utrecht University, Princetonplein 5, 3584 CC, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Ernest B van der Wee
- Soft Condensed Matter, Debye Institute for Nanomaterials Science, Utrecht University, Princetonplein 5, 3584 CC, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Christopher B Murray
- Department of Chemistry, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA.,Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
| | - Marjolein Dijkstra
- Soft Condensed Matter, Debye Institute for Nanomaterials Science, Utrecht University, Princetonplein 5, 3584 CC, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Alfons van Blaaderen
- Soft Condensed Matter, Debye Institute for Nanomaterials Science, Utrecht University, Princetonplein 5, 3584 CC, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
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15
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Smirnov E, Peljo P, Girault HH. Gold Raspberry-Like Colloidosomes Prepared at the Water-Nitromethane Interface. LANGMUIR : THE ACS JOURNAL OF SURFACES AND COLLOIDS 2018; 34:2758-2763. [PMID: 29376386 DOI: 10.1021/acs.langmuir.7b03532] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
In this study, we propose a simple shake-flask method to produce micron-size colloidosomes from a liquid-liquid interface functionalized with a gold nanoparticle (AuNP) film. A step-by-step extraction process of an organic phase partially miscible with water led to the formation of raspberry-like structures covered and protected by a gold nanofilm. The distinctive feature of the prepared colloidosomes is a very thin shell consisting of small AuNPs of 12 or 38 nm in diameter instead of several hundred nanometers reported previously. The interesting and remarkable property of the proposed approach is their reversibility: the colloidosomes may be easily transformed back to a nanofilm state simply by adding pure organic solvent. The obtained colloidosomes have a broadband absorbance spectrum, which makes them of great interest in applications such as photothermal therapy, surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy studies, and microreactor vesicles for interfacial electrocatalysis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Evgeny Smirnov
- Laboratoire d'Electrochimie Physique et Analytique, Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne , Rue de l'Industrie 17, CH-1951 Sion, Switzerland
| | - Pekka Peljo
- Laboratoire d'Electrochimie Physique et Analytique, Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne , Rue de l'Industrie 17, CH-1951 Sion, Switzerland
| | - Hubert H Girault
- Laboratoire d'Electrochimie Physique et Analytique, Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne , Rue de l'Industrie 17, CH-1951 Sion, Switzerland
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16
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Liber SR, Indech G, van der Wee EB, Butenko AV, Kodger TE, Lu PJ, Schofield AB, Weitz DA, van Blaaderen A, Sloutskin E. Axial Confocal Tomography of Capillary-Contained Colloidal Structures. LANGMUIR : THE ACS JOURNAL OF SURFACES AND COLLOIDS 2017; 33:13343-13349. [PMID: 29043816 DOI: 10.1021/acs.langmuir.7b03039] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
Confocal microscopy is widely used for three-dimensional (3D) sample reconstructions. Arguably, the most significant challenge in such reconstructions is posed by the resolution along the optical axis being significantly lower than in the lateral directions. In addition, the imaging rate is lower along the optical axis in most confocal architectures, prohibiting reliable 3D reconstruction of dynamic samples. Here, we demonstrate a very simple, cheap, and generic method of multiangle microscopy, allowing high-resolution high-rate confocal slice collection to be carried out with capillary-contained colloidal samples in a wide range of slice orientations. This method, realizable with any common confocal architecture and recently implemented with macroscopic specimens enclosed in rotatable cylindrical capillaries, allows 3D reconstructions of colloidal structures to be verified by direct experiments and provides a solid testing ground for complex reconstruction algorithms. In this paper, we focus on the implementation of this method for dense nonrotatable colloidal samples, contained in complex-shaped capillaries. Additionally, we discuss strategies to minimize potential pitfalls of this method, such as the artificial appearance of chain-like particle structures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shir R Liber
- Physics Department and Bar-Ilan Institute of Nanotechnology & Advanced Materials, Bar-Ilan University , Ramat-Gan 5290002, Israel
| | - Ganit Indech
- Physics Department and Bar-Ilan Institute of Nanotechnology & Advanced Materials, Bar-Ilan University , Ramat-Gan 5290002, Israel
| | - Ernest B van der Wee
- Soft Condensed Matter, Debye Institute for NanoMaterials Science, Utrecht University , Princetonplein 1, 3584 CC Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Alexander V Butenko
- Physics Department and Bar-Ilan Institute of Nanotechnology & Advanced Materials, Bar-Ilan University , Ramat-Gan 5290002, Israel
| | - Thomas E Kodger
- Physical Chemistry and Soft Matter, Wageningen University & Research , Stippeneng 4, 6708 WE Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Peter J Lu
- Department of Physics and SEAS, Harvard University , Cambridge, Massachusetts 02138, United States
| | - Andrew B Schofield
- The School of Physics and Astronomy, University of Edinburgh , Edinburgh EH9 3FD, U.K
| | - David A Weitz
- Department of Physics and SEAS, Harvard University , Cambridge, Massachusetts 02138, United States
| | - Alfons van Blaaderen
- Soft Condensed Matter, Debye Institute for NanoMaterials Science, Utrecht University , Princetonplein 1, 3584 CC Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Eli Sloutskin
- Physics Department and Bar-Ilan Institute of Nanotechnology & Advanced Materials, Bar-Ilan University , Ramat-Gan 5290002, Israel
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17
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Oveisi E, Letouzey A, De Zanet S, Lucas G, Cantoni M, Fua P, Hébert C. Stereo-vision three-dimensional reconstruction of curvilinear structures imaged with a TEM. Ultramicroscopy 2017; 184:116-124. [PMID: 28888106 DOI: 10.1016/j.ultramic.2017.08.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/11/2017] [Revised: 07/01/2017] [Accepted: 08/20/2017] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Deriving accurate three-dimensional (3-D) structural information of materials at the nanometre level is often crucial for understanding their properties. Tomography in transmission electron microscopy (TEM) is a powerful technique that provides such information. It is however demanding and sometimes inapplicable, as it requires the acquisition of multiple images within a large tilt arc and hence prolonged exposure to electrons. In some cases, prior knowledge about the structure can tremendously simplify the 3-D reconstruction if incorporated adequately. Here, a novel algorithm is presented that is able to produce a full 3-D reconstruction of curvilinear structures from stereo pair of TEM images acquired within a small tilt range that spans from only a few to tens of degrees. Reliability of the algorithm is demonstrated through reconstruction of a model 3-D object from its simulated projections, and is compared with that of conventional tomography. This method is experimentally demonstrated for the 3-D visualization of dislocation arrangements in a deformed metallic micro-pillar.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emad Oveisi
- Interdisciplinary Centre for Electron Microscopy, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), Switzerland; Electron Spectrometry and Microscopy Laboratory, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), Switzerland.
| | - Antoine Letouzey
- Electron Spectrometry and Microscopy Laboratory, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), Switzerland; Computer Vision Laboratory, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), Switzerland
| | - Sandro De Zanet
- Electron Spectrometry and Microscopy Laboratory, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), Switzerland; Computer Vision Laboratory, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), Switzerland
| | - Guillaume Lucas
- Interdisciplinary Centre for Electron Microscopy, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), Switzerland; Electron Spectrometry and Microscopy Laboratory, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), Switzerland
| | - Marco Cantoni
- Interdisciplinary Centre for Electron Microscopy, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), Switzerland
| | - Pascal Fua
- Computer Vision Laboratory, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), Switzerland
| | - Cécile Hébert
- Interdisciplinary Centre for Electron Microscopy, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), Switzerland; Electron Spectrometry and Microscopy Laboratory, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), Switzerland.
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18
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Ching DJ, Gürsoy D. XDesign: an open-source software package for designing X-ray imaging phantoms and experiments. JOURNAL OF SYNCHROTRON RADIATION 2017; 24:537-544. [PMID: 28244451 DOI: 10.1107/s1600577517001928] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2016] [Accepted: 02/06/2017] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
The development of new methods or utilization of current X-ray computed tomography methods is impeded by the substantial amount of expertise required to design an X-ray computed tomography experiment from beginning to end. In an attempt to make material models, data acquisition schemes and reconstruction algorithms more accessible to researchers lacking expertise in some of these areas, a software package is described here which can generate complex simulated phantoms and quantitatively evaluate new or existing data acquisition schemes and image reconstruction algorithms for targeted applications.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Dogˇa Gürsoy
- Advanced Photon Source, Argonne National Laboratory, Lemont, IL 60439, USA
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19
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Gelissen APH, Oppermann A, Caumanns T, Hebbeker P, Turnhoff SK, Tiwari R, Eisold S, Simon U, Lu Y, Mayer J, Richtering W, Walther A, Wöll D. 3D Structures of Responsive Nanocompartmentalized Microgels. NANO LETTERS 2016; 16:7295-7301. [PMID: 27701865 DOI: 10.1021/acs.nanolett.6b03940] [Citation(s) in RCA: 77] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
Compartmentalization in soft matter is important for segregating and coordinating chemical reactions, sequestering (re)active components, and integrating multifunctionality. Advances depend crucially on quantitative 3D visualization in situ with high spatiotemporal resolution. Here, we show the direct visualization of different compartments within adaptive microgels using a combination of in situ electron and super-resolved fluorescence microscopy. We unravel new levels of structural details and address the challenge of reconstructing 3D information from 2D projections for nonuniform soft matter as opposed to monodisperse proteins. Moreover, we visualize the thermally induced shrinkage of responsive core-shell microgels live in water. This strategy opens doors for systematic in situ studies of soft matter systems and their application as smart materials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arjan P H Gelissen
- Institute of Physical Chemistry, RWTH Aachen University , Landoltweg 2, D-52056 Aachen, Germany
| | - Alex Oppermann
- Institute of Physical Chemistry, RWTH Aachen University , Landoltweg 2, D-52056 Aachen, Germany
| | - Tobias Caumanns
- GFE Central Facility for Electron Microscopy, RWTH Aachen University , Mies-van-der-Rohe-Straße 59, D-52074 Aachen, Germany
| | - Pascal Hebbeker
- Institute of Physical Chemistry, RWTH Aachen University , Landoltweg 2, D-52056 Aachen, Germany
| | - Sarah K Turnhoff
- Institute of Physical Chemistry, RWTH Aachen University , Landoltweg 2, D-52056 Aachen, Germany
| | - Rahul Tiwari
- DWI - Leibniz-Institute for Interactive Materials , Forckenbeckstraße 50, D-52074 Aachen, Germany
| | - Sabine Eisold
- Institute of Inorganic Chemistry, RWTH Aachen University , Landoltweg 1, D-52056 Aachen, Germany
| | - Ulrich Simon
- Institute of Inorganic Chemistry, RWTH Aachen University , Landoltweg 1, D-52056 Aachen, Germany
| | - Yan Lu
- Soft Matter and Functional Materials, Helmholtz-Zentrum Berlin für Materialien und Energie , Hahn-Meitner-Platz 1, D-14109 Berlin, Germany
| | - Joachim Mayer
- GFE Central Facility for Electron Microscopy, RWTH Aachen University , Mies-van-der-Rohe-Straße 59, D-52074 Aachen, Germany
| | - Walter Richtering
- Institute of Physical Chemistry, RWTH Aachen University , Landoltweg 2, D-52056 Aachen, Germany
| | - Andreas Walther
- DWI - Leibniz-Institute for Interactive Materials , Forckenbeckstraße 50, D-52074 Aachen, Germany
| | - Dominik Wöll
- Institute of Physical Chemistry, RWTH Aachen University , Landoltweg 2, D-52056 Aachen, Germany
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20
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Boles MA, Engel M, Talapin DV. Self-Assembly of Colloidal Nanocrystals: From Intricate Structures to Functional Materials. Chem Rev 2016; 116:11220-89. [PMID: 27552640 DOI: 10.1021/acs.chemrev.6b00196] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1049] [Impact Index Per Article: 131.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Chemical methods developed over the past two decades enable preparation of colloidal nanocrystals with uniform size and shape. These Brownian objects readily order into superlattices. Recently, the range of accessible inorganic cores and tunable surface chemistries dramatically increased, expanding the set of nanocrystal arrangements experimentally attainable. In this review, we discuss efforts to create next-generation materials via bottom-up organization of nanocrystals with preprogrammed functionality and self-assembly instructions. This process is often driven by both interparticle interactions and the influence of the assembly environment. The introduction provides the reader with a practical overview of nanocrystal synthesis, self-assembly, and superlattice characterization. We then summarize the theory of nanocrystal interactions and examine fundamental principles governing nanocrystal self-assembly from hard and soft particle perspectives borrowed from the comparatively established fields of micrometer colloids and block copolymer assembly. We outline the extensive catalog of superlattices prepared to date using hydrocarbon-capped nanocrystals with spherical, polyhedral, rod, plate, and branched inorganic core shapes, as well as those obtained by mixing combinations thereof. We also provide an overview of structural defects in nanocrystal superlattices. We then explore the unique possibilities offered by leveraging nontraditional surface chemistries and assembly environments to control superlattice structure and produce nonbulk assemblies. We end with a discussion of the unique optical, magnetic, electronic, and catalytic properties of ordered nanocrystal superlattices, and the coming advances required to make use of this new class of solids.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael A Boles
- Department of Chemistry and James Franck Institute, University of Chicago , Chicago, Illinois 60637, United States
| | - Michael Engel
- Institute for Multiscale Simulation, Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nürnberg , 91052 Erlangen, Germany.,Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Michigan , Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, United States
| | - Dmitri V Talapin
- Department of Chemistry and James Franck Institute, University of Chicago , Chicago, Illinois 60637, United States.,Center for Nanoscale Materials, Argonne National Lab , Argonne, Illinois 60439, United States
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21
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Yang Z, Altantzis T, Zanaga D, Bals S, Tendeloo GV, Pileni MP. Supracrystalline Colloidal Eggs: Epitaxial Growth and Freestanding Three-Dimensional Supracrystals in Nanoscaled Colloidosomes. J Am Chem Soc 2016; 138:3493-500. [DOI: 10.1021/jacs.5b13235] [Citation(s) in RCA: 57] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Zhijie Yang
- Université Paris Diderot, Sorbonne Paris Cité, ITODYS, UMR 7086 CNRS, 15 Rue J-A de Baïf, 75205, Cedex 13 Paris, France
| | - Thomas Altantzis
- Electron Microscopy for Materials Research (EMAT), University of Antwerp, Groenenborgerlaan 171, 2020 Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Daniele Zanaga
- Electron Microscopy for Materials Research (EMAT), University of Antwerp, Groenenborgerlaan 171, 2020 Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Sara Bals
- Electron Microscopy for Materials Research (EMAT), University of Antwerp, Groenenborgerlaan 171, 2020 Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Gustaaf Van Tendeloo
- Electron Microscopy for Materials Research (EMAT), University of Antwerp, Groenenborgerlaan 171, 2020 Antwerp, Belgium
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22
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Albuszis M, Roth PJ, Pauer W, Moritz HU. Two in one: use of azide functionality for controlled photo-crosslinking and click-modification of polymer microspheres. Polym Chem 2016. [DOI: 10.1039/c6py00937a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
Abstract
UV-Irradiation of azide-functional microspheres for several minutes is shown to result in efficient crosslinking based on nitrene chemistry and to spare a controllable amount of azide functionality which is amenable to click-modification through CuAAC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marco Albuszis
- Institute for Technical and Macromolecular Chemistry
- University of Hamburg
- 20146 Hamburg
- Germany
| | - Peter J. Roth
- Department of Chemistry
- Faculty of Engineering and Physical Sciences
- University of Surrey
- Guildford
- UK
| | - Werner Pauer
- Institute for Technical and Macromolecular Chemistry
- University of Hamburg
- 20146 Hamburg
- Germany
| | - Hans-Ulrich Moritz
- Institute for Technical and Macromolecular Chemistry
- University of Hamburg
- 20146 Hamburg
- Germany
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