Wettability engendered templated self-assembly (WETS) for fabricating multiphasic particles.

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Nanotechnology
• Chemical Engineering

Background:

• Precise control over multiphasic particle geometry and chemistry is crucial for diverse applications.
• Existing methods for fabricating multiphasic particles often lack versatility in composition, shape, and size.
• The demand for tailored micro- and nanoparticles necessitates innovative and scalable synthesis strategies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a simple, versatile, and scalable methodology for fabricating monodisperse multiphasic micro- and nanoparticles.
• To achieve precise control over particle composition, projected shape, modulus, and dimensions down to 25 nm.
• To establish a reproducible and cost-effective manufacturing process for custom multiphasic particles.

Main Methods:

• Fabrication of nonwettable surfaces patterned with monodisperse, wettable domains of varying sizes and shapes.
• Dip-coating patterned templates with polymer solutions or particle dispersions, leading to preferential self-assembly within wettable domains.
• Layered deposition of polymers and/or particles within patterned domains, followed by release using a sacrificial layer to form multiphasic particles.

Main Results:

• Successful fabrication of monodisperse multiphasic micro- and nanoparticles with controlled geometry and composition.
• Demonstrated ability to produce particles with dimensions as small as 25 nm.
• Achieved high reusability of patterned templates (over 20 cycles), indicating a scalable and cost-effective process.

Conclusions:

• The developed methodology offers a simple, rapid, and inexpensive route for large-scale manufacturing of multiphasic particles.
• The technique provides precise control over particle characteristics, opening new avenues for material design and application.
• The reusable template system enhances the economic viability and reproducibility of multiphasic particle synthesis.