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Updated: Jan 27, 2026
09:26
Synthesis and Characterization of Supramolecular Colloids
Published on: April 22, 2016
10.4K
Synthesis of Colloidal SU-8 Polymer Rods Using Sonication.
Carla Fernández-Rico1, Taiki Yanagishima1, Arran Curran1
1Department of Chemistry Physical and Theoretical Chemistry Laboratory, University of Oxford, South Parks Road, Oxford, OX1 3QZ, UK.
Advanced Materials (Deerfield Beach, Fla.)
|March 15, 2019
Summary
Researchers developed a method to create tunable fluorescent SU-8 polymer rods. These colloidal rods are stable in various solvents and useful for advanced microscopy and optical trapping applications.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Colloid Science
- Polymer Chemistry
Background:
- Colloidal particles with tunable properties are essential for advanced materials and experiments.
- Controlling particle dimensions and interactions is key for applications in soft matter physics.
Purpose of the Study:
- To describe the bulk synthesis of fluorescent colloidal SU-8 polymer rods with tunable dimensions.
- To demonstrate the utility of these rods in 3D confocal microscopy and optical trapping.
Main Methods:
- SU-8 polymer droplets were sheared to form an emulsion.
- Non-Brownian rods were exposed to ultrasonic waves to yield colloidal rods (3.5-10 µm length, 0.4-1 µm diameter).
- Solvent mixtures were used to independently control refractive index and mass density differences.
Main Results:
- Stable colloidal SU-8 rods were synthesized with controlled dimensions.
- Independent tuning of refractive index and mass density was achieved.
- Demonstrated imaging of liquid crystalline phases and isotropic-nematic interfaces via confocal microscopy.
- Showcased optical trapping of single rods in water and simultaneous manipulation of multiple rods.
Conclusions:
- The developed method enables the bulk synthesis of tunable colloidal SU-8 rods.
- These rods are versatile for applications requiring precise control over optical and gravitational properties.
- The study highlights the potential for advanced imaging and manipulation of colloidal systems.
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