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Defined core–shell particles as the key to complex interfacial self-assembly

Menath, Johannes; Eatson, Jack; Brilmayer, Robert; Andrieu-Brunsen, Annette; Buzza, D. Martin A.; Vogel, Nicolas

Authors

Johannes Menath

Jack Eatson

Robert Brilmayer

Annette Andrieu-Brunsen

Profile image of Martin Buzza

Dr Martin Buzza D.M.Buzza@hull.ac.uk
Reader in Theoretical & Computational Physics

Nicolas Vogel



Abstract

The two-dimensional self-assembly of colloidal particles serves as a model system for fundamental studies of structure formation and as a powerful tool to fabricate functional materials and surfaces. However, the prevalence of hexagonal symmetries in such self-assembling systems limits its structural versatility. More than two decades ago, Jagla demonstrated that core–shell particles with two interaction length scales can form complex, nonhexagonal minimum energy configurations. Based on such Jagla potentials, a wide variety of phases including cluster lattices, chains, and quasicrystals have been theoretically discovered. Despite the elegance of this approach, its experimental realization has remained largely elusive. Here, we capitalize on the distinct interfacial morphology of soft particles to design two-dimensional assemblies with structural complexity. We find that core–shell particles consisting of a silica core surface functionalized with a noncrosslinked polymer shell efficiently spread at a liquid interface to form a two-dimensional polymer corona surrounding the core. We controllably grow such shells by iniferter-type controlled radical polymerization. Upon interfacial compression, the resulting core–shell particles arrange in well-defined dimer, trimer, and tetramer lattices before transitioning into complex chain and cluster phases. The experimental phase behavior is accurately reproduced by Monte Carlo simulations and minimum energy calculations, suggesting that the interfacial assembly interacts via a pairwise-additive Jagla-type potential. By comparing theory, simulation, and experiment, we narrow the Jagla g-parameter of the system to between 0.9 and 2. The possibility to control the interaction potential via the interfacial morphology provides a framework to realize structural features with unprecedented complexity from a simple, one-component system.

Citation

Menath, J., Eatson, J., Brilmayer, R., Andrieu-Brunsen, A., Buzza, D. M. A., & Vogel, N. (2021). Defined core–shell particles as the key to complex interfacial self-assembly. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, 118(52), Article e2113394118. https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2113394118

Journal Article Type Article
Acceptance Date Nov 9, 2021
Online Publication Date Dec 23, 2021
Publication Date Dec 28, 2021
Deposit Date Jan 28, 2022
Publicly Available Date Jun 24, 2022
Journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences
Print ISSN 0027-8424
Publisher National Academy of Sciences
Peer Reviewed Peer Reviewed
Volume 118
Issue 52
Article Number e2113394118
DOI https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2113394118
Keywords Colloids; Microgels; Self-assembly; Interfaces; Interactions
Public URL https://hull-repository.worktribe.com/output/3905071

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Copyright Statement
©2021 The authors. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced without the written permission of the copyright holder.






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