Helicoidal Patterning of Nanorods with Polymer Ligands.

Journal Article (Journal Article)

Chiral packing of ligands on the surface of nanoparticles (NPs) is of fundamental and practical importance, as it determines how NPs interact with each other and with the molecular world. Herein, for gold nanorods (NRs) capped with end-grafted nonchiral polymer ligands, we show a new mechanism of chiral surface patterning. Under poor solvency conditions, a smooth polymer layer segregates into helicoidally organized surface-pinned micelles (patches). The helicoidal morphology is dictated by the polymer grafting density and the ratio of the polymer ligand length to nanorod radius. Outside this specific parameter space, a range of polymer surface structures was observed, including random, shish-kebab, and hybrid patches, as well as a smooth polymer layer. We characterize polymer surface morphology by theoretical and experimental state diagrams. The helicoidally organized polymer patches on the NR surface can be used as a template for the helicoidal organization of other NPs, masked synthesis on the NR surface, as well as the exploration of new NP self-assembly modes.

Full Text

Duke Authors

Cited Authors

  • Galati, E; Tao, H; Tebbe, M; Ansari, R; Rubinstein, M; Zhulina, EB; Kumacheva, E

Published Date

  • March 2019

Published In

Volume / Issue

  • 58 / 10

Start / End Page

  • 3123 - 3127

PubMed ID

  • 30604462

Pubmed Central ID

  • PMC6400493

Electronic International Standard Serial Number (EISSN)

  • 1521-3773

International Standard Serial Number (ISSN)

  • 1433-7851

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

  • 10.1002/anie.201812887

Language

  • eng