Worming their way into shape: toroidal formations in micellar solutions
Joshua J Cardiel1, Lige Tonggu, Alice C Dohnalkova
1Department of Mechanical Engineering and ‡Department of Biological Structure, University of Washington , Seattle, Washington 98195, United States.
ACS Nano
|October 31, 2013
Summary
Researchers created nanostructured toroidal micellar bundles (nTMB) using a novel microfluidic method. This technique applies high strain rates to wormlike micelles, enabling controlled formation of these unique nanostructures for potential nanotemplating applications.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Soft Matter Physics
- Nanotechnology
Background:
- Wormlike micelles are versatile self-assembling structures with potential applications.
- Controlling micellar morphology at the nanoscale is crucial for advanced material design.
Purpose of the Study:
- To report the formation of nanostructured toroidal micellar bundles (nTMB).
- To present a novel method for creating stable nTMB using microfluidics and high strain rates.
Main Methods:
- A two-step protocol involving prestraining and flow through a micropost array microfluidic device.
- Cryogenic-electron microscopy (cryo-EM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) for structural analysis.
- Small-angle neutron scattering (SANS) to probe microstructural transitions.
Main Results:
- Successful formation of stable nanostructured toroidal micellar bundles (nTMB).
- Characterization of diverse nTMB morphologies and size distributions via electron microscopy.
- Evidence of a microstructural transition from wormlike micelles to nTMB using SANS.
- Demonstration that sonication can also induce nTMB and onion-like structures.
Conclusions:
- A microfluidic approach with high strain rates (10^5 s^-1) enables the formation of stable nTMB.
- The developed method offers control over nTMB formation and morphology.
- These findings suggest potential applications for nTMB in nanotemplating.
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