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Controlled assembly of plasmonic nanoparticles using neutral-charged diblock copolymers
Quanyi Yin1, Xia Han1, Virginie Ponsinet2
1State Key Laboratory of Chemical Engineering, Department of Chemistry, East China University of Science and Technology, 130 Meilong Road, Shanghai 200237, China.
Journal of Colloid and Interface Science
|July 4, 2014
Summary
Researchers controlled gold nanoparticle assembly using electrostatic interactions. Stable, reversible 400 nm complexes were formed, serving as building blocks for novel optical materials.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Nanotechnology
- Physical Chemistry
Background:
- Controlling nanoparticle assembly is crucial for developing advanced optical materials.
- Electrostatic assembly offers a versatile method for organizing nanomaterials.
- Surface modification of nanoparticles is key to achieving controlled interactions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To control the assembly of plasmonic gold nanoparticles (Au NPs) via electrostatic interactions.
- To investigate the formation and properties of complexes between modified Au NPs and block copolymers.
- To explore the potential of these complexes as building blocks for new optical materials.
Main Methods:
- Modification of Au NPs with a carboxyl-terminated polymeric ligand (SH-PEG7-COOH) for negative surface charge.
- Synthesis of pH-sensitive block copolymers (mPEG-PDMAEMA) via atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP).
- Characterization of complex formation using dynamic light scattering and spectrophotometry.
Main Results:
- Stable, negatively charged Au NPs were achieved over a pH range of 5-10 and high ionic strength.
- Electrostatic attraction between modified Au NPs and PDMAEMA blocks drove complex formation.
- Complex size, around 400 nm, was tunable by adjusting the relative quantities of polymers and nanoparticles.
- Complex formation was demonstrated to be reversible.
Conclusions:
- Electrostatic assembly provides effective control over plasmonic nanoparticle organization.
- The reversible formation of stable nanoparticle-polymer complexes opens avenues for tunable optical materials.
- These complexes can serve as versatile building blocks for advanced nanophotonic applications.
