Electrostatic and capillary force directed tunable 3D binary micro- and nanoparticle assemblies on surfaces

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Title: Electrostatic and capillary force directed tunable 3D binary micro- and nanoparticle assemblies on surfaces
Author(s): Singh, G.; Pillai, S.; Arpanaei, A.; Kingshott, P.
Abstract: We report a simple, rapid and cost-effective method based on evaporation induced assembly to grow 3D binary colloidal assemblies on a hydrophobic/hydrophilic substrate by simple drop casting. The evaporation of a mixed colloidal drop results in ring-like or uniform area deposition depending on the concentration of particles, and thus assembly occurs at the periphery of a ring or uniformly all over the drop area. Binary colloidal assemblies of different crystal structure are successfully prepared over a wide range of size ratios (gamma = small/large) from 0.06 to 0.30 by tuning the gamma of the micro- and nanoparticles used during assembly. The growth mechanism of 3D binary colloidal assemblies is investigated and it is found that electrostatic forces facilitate assembly formation until the end of the evaporation process, with capillary forces also playing a role. In addition, the effects of solvent type, humidity, and salt concentration on crystal formation and ordering behaviour are also examined. Furthermore, long range, highly ordered binary colloidal assemblies can be fabricated by the choice of a low conducting solvent combined with evaporation induced assembly.
Publication type: Journal article
Research centre: Swinburne University of Technology. Faculty of Engineering and Industrial Sciences. Industrial Research Institute Swinburne
Source: Nanotechnology, Vol. 22, no. 22 (Jun 2011), article no. 225601
Publication year: 2011
FOR Code(s): 0202 Atomic, Molecular, Nuclear, Particle and Plasma Physics; 0904 Chemical Engineering; 1007 Nanotechnology
Keyword(s): Colloidal crystals; Nanoparticles; Rapid fabrication; Thin-films
Publisher: Institute of Physics Publishing
ISSN: 0957-4484
Publisher URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1088/0957-4484/22/22/225601
Additional information: The authors acknowledge support from International PhD grants from the Danish Research Council for Technology and Production Sciences.
Peer reviewed