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Updated: Dec 24, 2025
A Technique to Functionalize and Self-assemble Macroscopic Nanoparticle-ligand Monolayer Films onto Template-free Substrates
Published on: May 9, 2014
Marangoni Effect-Driven Transfer and Compression at Three-Phase Interfaces for Highly Reproducible Nanoparticle
Xiang Lin1, Guoqiang Fang1, Yuanlan Liu1
1Key Laboratory of New Energy and Rare Earth Resource Utilization of State Ethnic Affairs Commission, Key Laboratory of Photosensitive Materials & Devices of Liaoning Province, School of Physics and Materials Engineering, Dalian Minzu University, Dalian 116600, China.
Abstract:
Interfacial self-assembly is a powerful technology for preparing large scale nanoparticle monolayers, but fabrication of highly repeatable large scale nanoparticle monolayers remains a challenge. Here we develop an oil/water/oil (O/W/O) three-phase system based on the Marangoni effect to fabricate highly reproducible nanoparticle monolayers. Nanoparticles could be easily transferred and compressed from the lower O/W interface to the upper O/W interface due to the interfacial tension gradient. The O/W/O system can be constructed using different kinds of organic solvents. Through this approach, good uniformity and reproducibility of the nanoparticle monolayers could be guaranteed even using a wide range of nanoparticle concentrations. Furthermore, this strategy is generally applicable to various nanoparticles with different sizes, shapes, components, and surface ligands, which offers a facile and general approach to functional nanodevices.
