Achieving 3-D Nanoparticle Assembly in Nanocomposite Thin Films via Kinetic Control

作者：Huang Jingyu; Xiao Yihan; Xu Ting^*

来源：Macromolecules, 2017, 50(5): 2183-2188.

DOI：10.1021/acs.macromol.7b00063

Nanocomposite thin films containing well -ordered nanoparticle (NP) assemblies are ideal candidates for the fabrication of metamaterials. Achieving 3-D assembly of NPs in nanocomposite thin films is thermodynamically challenging as the particle size gets similar to that of a single polymer chain. The entropic penalties of polymeric matrix upon NP incorporation leads to NP aggregation on the film surface or within the defects in the film. Controlling the kinetic pathways of assembly process provides an alternative path forward by arresting the system in nonequilibrium states. Here, we report the thin film 3-D hierarchical assembly of 20 nm NPs in supramolecules with a 30 nm periodicity. By mediating the NP diffusion kinetics in the supramolecular matrix, surface aggregation of NPs was suppressed and NPs coassemble with supramolecules to form new 3-D morphologies in thin films. The present studies opened a viable route to achieve designer functional composite thin films via kinetic control.

• 出版日期2017-3-14