Self-Assembly of Core-Shell Hybrid Nanoparticles by Directional Crystallization of Grafted Polymers

Nabiyan A, Muttathukattil A, Tomazic F, Pretzel D, Schubert US, Engel M, Schacher FH (2023)

Publication Type: Journal article

Publication year: 2023

Journal

ACS nano American Chemical Society

DOI: 10.1021/acsnano.3c05461

Abstract

Nanoparticle self-assembly is an efficient bottom-up strategy for the creation of nanostructures. In a typical approach, ligands are grafted onto the surfaces of nanoparticles to improve the dispersion stability and control interparticle interactions. Ligands then remain secondary and usually are not expected to order significantly during superstructure formation. Here, we investigate how ligands can play a more decisive role in the formation of anisotropic inorganic-organic hybrid materials. We graft poly(2-iso-propyl-2-oxazoline) (PiPrOx) as a crystallizable shell onto SiO2 nanoparticles. By varying the PiPrOx grafting density, both solution stability and nanoparticle aggregation behavior can be controlled. Upon prolonged heating, anisotropic nanostructures form in conjunction with the crystallization of the ligands. Self-assembly of hybrid PiPrOx@SiO2 (shell@core) nanoparticles proceeds in two steps: First, the rapid formation of amorphous aggregates occurs via gelation, mediated by the interaction between nanoparticles through grafted polymer chains. As a second step, slow radial growth of fibers was observed via directional crystallization, governed by the incorporation of crystalline ribbons formed from free polymeric ligands in combination with crystallization of the covalently attached ligand shell. Our work reveals how crystallization-driven self-assembly of ligands can create intricate hybrid nanostructures.

Authors with CRIS profile

Federico Tomazic Professur für Modellierung von Selbstorganisationsprozessen Michael Engel Professur für Modellierung von Selbstorganisationsprozessen

Involved external institutions

Friedrich-Schiller-Universität Jena DE Germany (DE)

How to cite

APA:

Nabiyan, A., Muttathukattil, A., Tomazic, F., Pretzel, D., Schubert, U.S., Engel, M., & Schacher, F.H. (2023). Self-Assembly of Core-Shell Hybrid Nanoparticles by Directional Crystallization of Grafted Polymers. ACS nano. https://doi.org/10.1021/acsnano.3c05461

MLA:

Nabiyan, Afshin, et al. "Self-Assembly of Core-Shell Hybrid Nanoparticles by Directional Crystallization of Grafted Polymers." ACS nano (2023).

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