1
|
Xia Y, Sevim S, Vale JP, Seibel J, Rodríguez-San-Miguel D, Kim D, Pané S, Mayor TS, De Feyter S, Puigmartí-Luis J. Covalent transfer of chemical gradients onto a graphenic surface with 2D and 3D control. Nat Commun 2022; 13:7006. [PMID: 36384990 PMCID: PMC9668971 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-34684-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/02/2022] [Accepted: 11/02/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Control over the functionalization of graphenic materials is key to enable their full application in electronic and optical technologies. Covalent functionalization strategies have been proposed as an approach to tailor the interfaces' structure and properties. However, to date, none of the proposed methods allow for a covalent functionalization with control over the grafting density, layer thickness and/or morphology, which are key aspects for fine-tuning the processability and performance of graphenic materials. Here, we show that the no-slip boundary condition at the walls of a continuous flow microfluidic device offers a way to generate controlled chemical gradients onto a graphenic material with 2D and 3D control, a possibility that will allow the sophisticated functionalization of these technologically-relevant materials.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yuanzhi Xia
- Department of Chemistry, Division of Molecular Imaging and Photonics, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Semih Sevim
- Multi-Scale Robotics Lab, Institute of Robotics and Intelligent Systems, ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - João Pedro Vale
- Transport Phenomena Research Centre (CEFT), Engineering Faculty of Porto University, Porto, Portugal
- Associate Laboratory in Chemical Engineering (ALiCE), Engineering Faculty of Porto University, Porto, Portugal
| | - Johannes Seibel
- Department of Chemistry, Division of Molecular Imaging and Photonics, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - David Rodríguez-San-Miguel
- Departament de Ciència dels Materials i Química Física, Institut de Química Teòrica i Computacional, University of Barcelona (UB), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Donghoon Kim
- Multi-Scale Robotics Lab, Institute of Robotics and Intelligent Systems, ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Salvador Pané
- Multi-Scale Robotics Lab, Institute of Robotics and Intelligent Systems, ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Tiago Sotto Mayor
- Transport Phenomena Research Centre (CEFT), Engineering Faculty of Porto University, Porto, Portugal.
- Associate Laboratory in Chemical Engineering (ALiCE), Engineering Faculty of Porto University, Porto, Portugal.
| | - Steven De Feyter
- Department of Chemistry, Division of Molecular Imaging and Photonics, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.
| | - Josep Puigmartí-Luis
- Departament de Ciència dels Materials i Química Física, Institut de Química Teòrica i Computacional, University of Barcelona (UB), Barcelona, Spain.
- Institució Catalana de Recerca i Estudis Avançats (ICREA), Barcelona, Spain.
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Ollerton K, Greenaway RL, Slater AG. Enabling Technology for Supramolecular Chemistry. Front Chem 2021; 9:774987. [PMID: 34869224 PMCID: PMC8634592 DOI: 10.3389/fchem.2021.774987] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2021] [Accepted: 10/21/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Supramolecular materials-materials that exploit non-covalent interactions-are increasing in structural complexity, selectivity, function, stability, and scalability, but their use in applications has been comparatively limited. In this Minireview, we summarize the opportunities presented by enabling technology-flow chemistry, high-throughput screening, and automation-to wield greater control over the processes in supramolecular chemistry and accelerate the discovery and use of self-assembled systems. Finally, we give an outlook for how these tools could transform the future of the field.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Katie Ollerton
- Department of Chemistry and Materials Innovation Factory, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, United Kingdom
| | - Rebecca L. Greenaway
- Department of Chemistry, Molecular Sciences Research Hub, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Anna G. Slater
- Department of Chemistry and Materials Innovation Factory, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, United Kingdom
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Khoeini D, Scott TF, Neild A. Microfluidic enhancement of self-assembly systems. LAB ON A CHIP 2021; 21:1661-1675. [PMID: 33949588 DOI: 10.1039/d1lc00038a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Dynamic, kinetically-controlled, self-assembly processes are commonly observed in nature and are capable of creating intricate, functional architectures from simple precursors. However, notably, much of the research into molecular self-assembly has been performed using conventional bulk techniques where the resultant species are dictated by thermodynamic stability to yield relatively simple assemblies. Whereas, the environmental control offered by microfluidic systems offers methods to achieve non-equilibrium reaction conditions capable of increasingly sophisticated self-assembled structures. Alterations to the immediate microenvironment during the assembly of the molecules is possible, providing the basis for kinetically-controlled assembly. This review examines the key mechanism offered by microfluidic systems and the architectures required to access them. The mechanisms include diffusion-led mixing, shear gradient alignment, spatial and temporal confinement, and structural templates in multiphase systems. The works are selected and categorised in terms of the microfluidic approaches taken rather than the chemical constructs which are formed.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Davood Khoeini
- Laboratory for Micro Systems, Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Monash University, Clayton, VIC 3800, Australia.
| | - Timothy F Scott
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Monash University, Clayton, VIC 3800, Australia and Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Monash University, Clayton, VIC 3800, Australia
| | - Adrian Neild
- Laboratory for Micro Systems, Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Monash University, Clayton, VIC 3800, Australia.
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Castillo-Vallés M, Romero P, Sebastián V, Ros MB. Microfluidics for the rapid and controlled preparation of organic nanotubes of bent-core based dendrimers. NANOSCALE ADVANCES 2021; 3:1682-1689. [PMID: 36132558 PMCID: PMC9418585 DOI: 10.1039/d0na00744g] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/04/2020] [Accepted: 01/05/2021] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Recently, bent-core molecules have emerged as excellent building blocks for the obtaining of nanostructures in solvents. Herein, we report the use of a coaxial microfluidic system as a promising tool to control the self-assembly of non-conventional bent-core amphiphiles. Moreover, a TEM study to comprehend the hierarchical self-assembly process in solution was carried out. The proposed tool provides both a cost-effective platform to save hard-to-synthesise reagents and a rapid method to screen a plethora of different parameters, i.e., THF/water ratio, residence time, concentration of the amphiphile, temperature and pH. The experiments allowed to test for the first time the suitability of microfluidics for the self-assembly of bent-core molecules, as well as the study of a range of conditions to control the assembly of different nanostructures in a rapid and controlled manner. Additionally, organic nanostructures were combined with gold nanoparticles to prepare nanocomposites with enhanced properties. Both organic and hybrid nanostructures were also obtained in the solid state. These results may inspire scientists working on supramolecular chemistry and bent-core molecules expanding the scope of microfluidic systems for the self-assembly of other low-molecular-weight compounds.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Martín Castillo-Vallés
- Department of Organic Chemistry, Instituto de Nanociencia y Materiales de Aragón (INMA), CSIC-Universidad de Zaragoza Zaragoza 50009 Spain
| | - Pilar Romero
- Department of Organic Chemistry, Instituto de Nanociencia y Materiales de Aragón (INMA), CSIC-Universidad de Zaragoza Zaragoza 50009 Spain
| | - Víctor Sebastián
- Department of Chemical Engineering and Environmental Technology, Instituto de Nanociencia y Materiales de Aragón (INMA), CSIC-Universidad de Zaragoza Zaragoza 50009 Spain
- Networking Research Center on Bioengineering, Biomaterials and Nanomedicine, CIBER-BBN 28029-Madrid Spain
| | - M Blanca Ros
- Department of Organic Chemistry, Instituto de Nanociencia y Materiales de Aragón (INMA), CSIC-Universidad de Zaragoza Zaragoza 50009 Spain
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Sevim S, Sorrenti A, Franco C, Furukawa S, Pané S, deMello AJ, Puigmartí-Luis J. Self-assembled materials and supramolecular chemistry within microfluidic environments: from common thermodynamic states to non-equilibrium structures. Chem Soc Rev 2018; 47:3788-3803. [PMID: 29714390 PMCID: PMC5989397 DOI: 10.1039/c8cs00025e] [Citation(s) in RCA: 79] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/09/2018] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Self-assembly is a crucial component in the bottom-up fabrication of hierarchical supramolecular structures and advanced functional materials. Control has traditionally relied on the use of encoded building blocks bearing suitable moieties for recognition and interaction, with targeting of the thermodynamic equilibrium state. On the other hand, nature leverages the control of reaction-diffusion processes to create hierarchically organized materials with surprisingly complex biological functions. Indeed, under non-equilibrium conditions (kinetic control), the spatio-temporal command of chemical gradients and reactant mixing during self-assembly (the creation of non-uniform chemical environments for example) can strongly affect the outcome of the self-assembly process. This directly enables a precise control over material properties and functions. In this tutorial review, we show how the unique physical conditions offered by microfluidic technologies can be advantageously used to control the self-assembly of materials and of supramolecular aggregates in solution, making possible the isolation of intermediate states and unprecedented non-equilibrium structures, as well as the emergence of novel functions. Selected examples from the literature will be used to confirm that microfluidic devices are an invaluable toolbox technology for unveiling, understanding and steering self-assembly pathways to desired structures, properties and functions, as well as advanced processing tools for device fabrication and integration.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- S. Sevim
- Institute for Chemical & Bioengineering
, Department of Chemistry & Applied Biosciences, ETH Zurich
,
Zurich 8093
, Switzerland
.
;
| | - A. Sorrenti
- Institute for Chemical & Bioengineering
, Department of Chemistry & Applied Biosciences, ETH Zurich
,
Zurich 8093
, Switzerland
.
;
| | - C. Franco
- Institute for Chemical & Bioengineering
, Department of Chemistry & Applied Biosciences, ETH Zurich
,
Zurich 8093
, Switzerland
.
;
| | - S. Furukawa
- Institute for Integrated Cell-Material Sciences (WPI-iCeMS)
, Kyoto University
, Yoshida
,
Sakyo-ku
, Kyoto 606-8501
, Japan
| | - S. Pané
- Multi-Scale Robotics Lab (MSRL)
, Institute of Robotics & Intelligent Systems (IRIS)
, ETH Zurich
,
Zurich 8092
, Switzerland
| | - A. J. deMello
- Institute for Chemical & Bioengineering
, Department of Chemistry & Applied Biosciences, ETH Zurich
,
Zurich 8093
, Switzerland
.
;
| | - J. Puigmartí-Luis
- Institute for Chemical & Bioengineering
, Department of Chemistry & Applied Biosciences, ETH Zurich
,
Zurich 8093
, Switzerland
.
;
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Numata M. Supramolecular Chemistry in Microflow Fields: Toward a New Material World of Precise Kinetic Control. Chem Asian J 2015; 10:2574-88. [DOI: 10.1002/asia.201500555] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2015] [Revised: 08/04/2015] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Munenori Numata
- Department of Biomolecular Chemistry; Graduate School of Life and Environmental Sciences; Kyoto Prefectural University, Shimogamo, Sakyo-ku; Kyoto 606-8522 Japan
| |
Collapse
|