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Updated: Apr 19, 2026
Capillary-based Centrifugal Microfluidic Device for Size-controllable Formation of Monodisperse Microdroplets
Published on: February 22, 2016
Growth mechanism deconvolution of self-limiting supraparticles based on microfluidic system
Qiang Fu1, Yuping Sheng, Hongjie Tang
1State Key Laboratory of Electroanalytical Chemistry, Jilin Province Key Laboratory of Low Carbon Chemical Power, Changchun Institute of Applied Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Science , 5625 Renmin Street, Changchun 130022, P.R. China.
Researchers created uniform gold supraparticles using flexible nanoarms. A microfluidic chip enabled observation of intermediate nanoplates, revealing a two-step seed-mediated growth mechanism for these complex colloidal structures.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Nanotechnology
- Colloidal Chemistry
Background:
- Colloidal supraparticles (SPs) synthesis via self-assembly is a growing research area.
- Controlling the formation of monodisperse, core-shell SPs remains challenging.
- Understanding intermediate structures is key to controlling SP morphology.
Purpose of the Study:
- To demonstrate a one-step synthesis of monodisperse gold SPs with core-shell morphology.
- To investigate the self-assembly mechanism of flexible nanoarm building blocks.
- To elucidate the role of intermediates in SP formation.
Main Methods:
- Utilizing a flow-based microfluidic chip to control assembly kinetics.
- Observing transient intermediate structures during synthesis.
- Employing Monte Carlo simulations to model growth dynamics.
Main Results:
- Achieved self-limiting, monodisperse gold SPs with core-shell structure in one step.
- Identified ultrathin gold nanoplates as transient intermediates, previously unobserved.
- Deconvoluted SP growth into two distinct seed-mediated steps.
- Monte Carlo simulations confirmed growth governed by electrostatic and van der Waals forces.
Conclusions:
- Microfluidics enables the observation and control of intermediate structures in SP synthesis.
- The identified two-step mechanism provides insights into self-limiting supraparticle formation.
- The balance of interparticle forces dictates the final supraparticle morphology.
