1
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Lin G, Tao J, Sun Y, Cui Y, Manners I, Qiu H. Breaking of Lateral Symmetry in Two-Dimensional Crystallization-Driven Self-Assembly on a Surface. J Am Chem Soc 2024; 146:14734-14744. [PMID: 38748980 DOI: 10.1021/jacs.4c02390] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/30/2024]
Abstract
Symmetry breaking is prevalent in nature and provides distinctive access to hierarchical structures for artificial materials. However, it is rarely explored in two-dimensional (2D) entities, especially for lateral asymmetry. Herein, we describe a unique symmetry breaking process in surface-initiated 2D living crystallization-driven self-assembly. The 2D epitaxial growth occurs only at one lateral side of the immobilized cylindrical micelle seeds, accessing unilateral platelets with the yield increasing with the seed length, the growth temperature, and poly(2-vinylpyridine) corona length (maximum = 92%). Generally, the tilted immobilization of seeds blocks one lateral side and triggers the lateral symmetry breaking, where the intensity and spatial arrangement of seed-surface interactions dictate the regulation. Segmented unilateral platelets with segmented corona regions are further fabricated with the addition of different blended unimers. Remarkably, discrete slope-like and dense blade-like platelet arrays grow off the surface when seeds are compactly aligned either with spherical micelles or themselves. This strategy provides nanoscale insights into the symmetry breaking in long-range self-assembly and would be promising for the design of innovative colloids and smart surfaces.
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Affiliation(s)
- Geyu Lin
- School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Zhangjiang Institute for Advanced Study, Frontiers Science Center for Transformative Molecules, State Key Laboratory of Metal Matrix Composites, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, P. R. China
| | - Jiawei Tao
- School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Zhangjiang Institute for Advanced Study, Frontiers Science Center for Transformative Molecules, State Key Laboratory of Metal Matrix Composites, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, P. R. China
| | - Yan Sun
- School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Zhangjiang Institute for Advanced Study, Frontiers Science Center for Transformative Molecules, State Key Laboratory of Metal Matrix Composites, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, P. R. China
| | - Yan Cui
- School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Zhangjiang Institute for Advanced Study, Frontiers Science Center for Transformative Molecules, State Key Laboratory of Metal Matrix Composites, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, P. R. China
| | - Ian Manners
- Department of Chemistry, University of Victoria, Victoria, British Columbia V8P5C2, Canada
| | - Huibin Qiu
- School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Zhangjiang Institute for Advanced Study, Frontiers Science Center for Transformative Molecules, State Key Laboratory of Metal Matrix Composites, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, P. R. China
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2
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Liu L, Meng X, Li M, Chu Z, Tong Z. Regulation of Two-Dimensional Platelet Micelles with Tunable Core Composition Distribution via Coassembly Seeded Growth Approach. ACS Macro Lett 2024; 13:542-549. [PMID: 38629823 DOI: 10.1021/acsmacrolett.4c00124] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/22/2024]
Abstract
Seeded growth termed "living" crystallization-driven self-assembly (CDSA) has been identified as a powerful method to create one- or two-dimensional nanoparticles. Epitaxial crystallization is usually regarded as the growth mechanism for the formation of uniform micelles. From this perspective, the unimer depositing rate is largely related to the crystallization temperature, which is a key factor to determine the crystallization rate and regulate the core composition distribution among nanoparticles. In the present work, the coassembly of two distinct crystallizable polymers is explored in detail in a one-pot seeded growth protocol. Results have shown that polylactone containing a larger number of methylene groups (-CH2-) in their repeating units such as poly(η-octalactone) (POL) has a faster crystallization rate compared to poly(ε-caprolactone) (PCL) with a smaller number of -CH2- at ambient temperature (25 °C), thus a block or blocky platelet structure with heterogeneous composition distribution is formed. In contrast, when the crystallization temperature decreases to 4 °C, the difference of crystallization rate between both cores become negligible. Consequently, a completely random component distribution within 2D platelets is observed. Moreover, we also reveal that the core component of seed micelles is also paramount for the coassembly seeded growth, and a unique structure of flower-like platelet micelle is created from the coassembly of PCL/POL using POL core-forming seeds. This study on the formation of platelet micelles by one-pot seeded growth using two crystallizable components offers a considerable scope for the design of 2D polymer nanomaterials with a controlled core component distribution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liping Liu
- School of Materials Science and Engineering and Institute of Smart Biomaterials, Zhejiang Sci-Tech University, Hangzhou 310018, P. R. China
| | - Xiancheng Meng
- School of Materials Science and Engineering and Institute of Smart Biomaterials, Zhejiang Sci-Tech University, Hangzhou 310018, P. R. China
| | - Meili Li
- School of Materials Science and Engineering and Institute of Smart Biomaterials, Zhejiang Sci-Tech University, Hangzhou 310018, P. R. China
| | - Zhenyan Chu
- School of Materials Science and Engineering and Institute of Smart Biomaterials, Zhejiang Sci-Tech University, Hangzhou 310018, P. R. China
| | - Zaizai Tong
- School of Materials Science and Engineering and Institute of Smart Biomaterials, Zhejiang Sci-Tech University, Hangzhou 310018, P. R. China
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3
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Jin B, Hu L, Li X. Mesogenic Ordering-Driven Self-Assembly of Liquid Crystalline Block Copolymers in Solution. Chemistry 2024; 30:e202400312. [PMID: 38454618 DOI: 10.1002/chem.202400312] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2024] [Revised: 03/06/2024] [Accepted: 03/07/2024] [Indexed: 03/09/2024]
Abstract
With the development of nanotechnology, the preparation of polymeric nanoparticles with nicely defined structures has been well-developed, and the functionalization and subsequent applications of the resultant nanostructures are becoming increasingly important. Particularly, by introducing mesogenic ordering as the driving force for the solution-state self-assembly of liquid crystalline (LC) block copolymers (BCPs), micellar nanostructures with different morphologies, especially anisotropic morphologies, can be easily prepared. This review summarizes the recent progress in the solution-state self-assembly of LC BCPs and is mostly focused on four main related aspects, including an in-depth understanding of the mesogenic ordering-driven self-assembly, precise assembly methods, utilization of these methods to fabricate hierarchical structures, and the potential applications of these well-defined nanostructures. We hope not only to make a systematic summary of previous studies but also to provide some useful thinking for the future development of this field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bixin Jin
- School of Materials Science and Engineering, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing, 100081, P. R. China
| | - Lingjuan Hu
- School of Materials Science and Engineering, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing, 100081, P. R. China
| | - Xiaoyu Li
- School of Materials Science and Engineering, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing, 100081, P. R. China
- Key Laboratory of High Energy Density Materials, MOE. Beijing, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing, 100081, P. R. China
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4
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Sun L, Gong Y, Che Y, Ji H, Liu B, Che Y, Zhao J. Light-Regulated Nucleation for Growing Highly Uniform Single-Crystalline Microrods. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2024; 63:e202402253. [PMID: 38497168 DOI: 10.1002/anie.202402253] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2024] [Revised: 03/06/2024] [Accepted: 03/18/2024] [Indexed: 03/19/2024]
Abstract
We report a light-irradiation method to control the synchronous nucleation of a donor-acceptor (D-A) fluorophore for growing highly uniform single-crystalline microrods, which is in sharp contrast to the prevailing methods of restricting spontaneous nucleation and additionally adding seeds. The D-A fluorophore was observed to undergo photoinduced electron transfer to CrCl3, leading to the generation of HCl and the subsequent protonation of the D-A fluorophore. By intensifying photoirradiation or prolonging its duration, the concentration of protonated D-A fluorophores can be rapidly increased to a high supersaturation level. This results in the formation of a controlled number of nuclei in a synchronous manner, which in turn kickstart the epitaxial growth of protonated D-A fluorophores towards uniform single-crystalline microrods of controlled sizes. The light-regulated synchronous nucleation and uniform growth of microrods are a unique phenomenon that can only be achieved by specific Lewis acids, making it a novel probing method for sensitively detecting strong Lewis acids such as chromium chloride.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lishan Sun
- Key Laboratory of Photochemistry, CAS Research/Education Center for Excellence in Molecular Sciences, Institute of Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100190, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Yanjun Gong
- Key Laboratory of Photochemistry, CAS Research/Education Center for Excellence in Molecular Sciences, Institute of Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100190, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Yanxue Che
- HT-NOVA Co., Ltd., Zhuyuan Road, Shunyi District, Beijing, 101312, China
| | - Hongwei Ji
- Key Laboratory of Photochemistry, CAS Research/Education Center for Excellence in Molecular Sciences, Institute of Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100190, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Bing Liu
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
- Beijing National Laboratory for Molecular Sciences, State Key Laboratory of Polymer Physics and Chemistry, Institute of Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100190, China
| | - Yanke Che
- Key Laboratory of Photochemistry, CAS Research/Education Center for Excellence in Molecular Sciences, Institute of Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100190, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Jincai Zhao
- Key Laboratory of Photochemistry, CAS Research/Education Center for Excellence in Molecular Sciences, Institute of Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100190, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
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5
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Li Z, Guo H, Jin X. Fabrication of Uniform Anionic Polymeric Nanoplatelets as Building Blocks for Constructing Conductive Hydrogels with Enhancing Conductive and Mechanical Properties. Macromol Rapid Commun 2024:e2400008. [PMID: 38659335 DOI: 10.1002/marc.202400008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2024] [Revised: 04/17/2024] [Indexed: 04/26/2024]
Abstract
Conductive hydrogels play a crucial role in advancing technologies like implantable bioelectronics and wearable electronic devices, owing to their favorable conductivity and appropriate mechanical properties. Here, a novel bottom-up approach is reported for crafting conductive nanocomposite hydrogels to achieve enhancing conductive and mechanical properties. In this approach, new poly(ɛ-caprolactone)-based block copolymers with sulfonic groups are first synthesized and self-assembled into uniform polyanionic nanoplatelets. Subsequently, these negatively charged nanoplatelets, with sulfonic groups on the surface, are employed as nanoadditives for the polymerization of 3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene (EDOT), resulting in poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene):poly(styrene sulfonate) (PEDOT:PSS)/nanoplatelet complex with 3.8 times enhanced electrical conductivity compared with their counterparts prepared using block copolymers (BCPs). Blending the (PEDOT:PSS)/nanoplatelet complex with calcium alginate, nanocomposite hydrogels are successfully prepared. In comparison with hydrogels with (PEDOT:PSS)/BCP complexes prepared by a top-down method, the nanocomposite hydrogels are found to show twice as strong mechanical strength and 1.6 times higher conductivity. This work provides valuable insights into the bottom-up construction of conductive hydrogels for bioelectronics using well-controlled polymeric nanoplatelets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zehua Li
- School of Chemistry, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing, 102488, China
| | - Hui Guo
- School of Chemistry, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing, 102488, China
| | - Xuhui Jin
- School of Chemistry, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing, 102488, China
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6
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Liu Y, Pan X, He Y, Guo B, Xu J. In Situ Monitoring and Tuning Multilayer Stacking of Polymer Lamellar Crystals in Solution with Aggregation-Induced Emission. NANO LETTERS 2024. [PMID: 38621356 DOI: 10.1021/acs.nanolett.3c03048] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/17/2024]
Abstract
Many types of self-assembled 2D materials with fascinating morphologies and novel properties have been prepared and used in solution. However, it is still a challenge to monitor their in situ growth in solution and to control the number of layers in these materials. Here, we demonstrate that the aggregation-induced emission (AIE) effect can be applied for the in situ decoupled tracing of the lateral growth and multilayer stacking of polymer lamellar crystals in solution. Multilayer stacking considerably enhances the photoluminescence intensity of the AIE molecules sandwiched between two layers of lamellar crystals, which is 2.4 times that on the surface of monolayer crystals. Both variation of the self-seeding temperature of crystal seeds and addition of a trace amount of long polymer chains during growth can control multilayer lamellar stacking, which are applied to produce tunable fluorescent patterns for functional applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yang Liu
- Advanced Materials Laboratory of Ministry of Education, Department of Chemical Engineering, Tsinghua University, 100084 Beijing, China
| | - Xinyi Pan
- Advanced Materials Laboratory of Ministry of Education, Department of Chemical Engineering, Tsinghua University, 100084 Beijing, China
| | - Yaning He
- Advanced Materials Laboratory of Ministry of Education, Department of Chemical Engineering, Tsinghua University, 100084 Beijing, China
| | - Baohua Guo
- Advanced Materials Laboratory of Ministry of Education, Department of Chemical Engineering, Tsinghua University, 100084 Beijing, China
| | - Jun Xu
- Advanced Materials Laboratory of Ministry of Education, Department of Chemical Engineering, Tsinghua University, 100084 Beijing, China
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7
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Gu P, Li H, Xiong B, Li J, Chen Z, Li W, Mao X, Wang H, Jin J, Xu J, Zhu J. Decoding the Pathway-Dependent Self-Assembly of Polymer-Grafted Nanoparticles by Ligand Crystallization. SMALL (WEINHEIM AN DER BERGSTRASSE, GERMANY) 2024; 20:e2306671. [PMID: 37992245 DOI: 10.1002/smll.202306671] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2023] [Revised: 10/20/2023] [Indexed: 11/24/2023]
Abstract
Functional metamaterials can be constructed by assembling nanoparticles (NPs) into well-ordered structures, which show fascinating properties at different length scales. Using polymer-grafted NPs (PGNPs) as a building block, flexible composite metamaterials can be obtained, of which the structure is significantly affected by the property of polymer ligands. Here, it is demonstrated that the crystallization of polymer ligands determines the assembly behavior of NPs and reveal a pathway-dependent self-assembly of PGNPs into different metastructures in solution. By changing the crystallization degree of polymer ligands, the arrangement structure of NPs can be tailored. When the polymer ligands highly crystallize, the PGNPs assemble into diamond-shaped platelets, in which the NPs arrange disorderedly. When the polymer ligands lowly crystallize, the PGNPs assemble into highly ordered 3D superlattices, in which the NPs pack into a body-centered-cubic structure. The structure transformation of PGNP assemblies can be achieved by thermal annealing to regulate the crystallization of polymer ligands. Interestingly, the diamond-shaped platelets remain "living" for seeded epitaxial growth of newly added crystalline species. This work demonstrates the effects of ligand crystallization on the crystallization of NP, providing new insights into the structure regulation of metamaterials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pan Gu
- Key Laboratory of Materials Chemistry for Energy Conversion and Storage of Ministry of Education (HUST), Hubei Key Laboratory of Materials Chemistry and Service Failure, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Huazhong University of Science and Technology (HUST), Wuhan, 430074, China
| | - Hao Li
- Key Laboratory of Materials Chemistry for Energy Conversion and Storage of Ministry of Education (HUST), Hubei Key Laboratory of Materials Chemistry and Service Failure, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Huazhong University of Science and Technology (HUST), Wuhan, 430074, China
| | - Bijin Xiong
- Key Laboratory of Materials Chemistry for Energy Conversion and Storage of Ministry of Education (HUST), Hubei Key Laboratory of Materials Chemistry and Service Failure, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Huazhong University of Science and Technology (HUST), Wuhan, 430074, China
| | - Jinlan Li
- State Key Laboratory of Polymer Physics and Chemistry, Changchun Institute of Applied Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Changchun, 130022, China
| | - Zhenxian Chen
- Key Laboratory of Materials Chemistry for Energy Conversion and Storage of Ministry of Education (HUST), Hubei Key Laboratory of Materials Chemistry and Service Failure, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Huazhong University of Science and Technology (HUST), Wuhan, 430074, China
| | - Wang Li
- Key Laboratory of Materials Chemistry for Energy Conversion and Storage of Ministry of Education (HUST), Hubei Key Laboratory of Materials Chemistry and Service Failure, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Huazhong University of Science and Technology (HUST), Wuhan, 430074, China
| | - Xi Mao
- Key Laboratory of Materials Chemistry for Energy Conversion and Storage of Ministry of Education (HUST), Hubei Key Laboratory of Materials Chemistry and Service Failure, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Huazhong University of Science and Technology (HUST), Wuhan, 430074, China
| | - Huayang Wang
- Key Laboratory of Materials Chemistry for Energy Conversion and Storage of Ministry of Education (HUST), Hubei Key Laboratory of Materials Chemistry and Service Failure, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Huazhong University of Science and Technology (HUST), Wuhan, 430074, China
| | - Jing Jin
- State Key Laboratory of Polymer Physics and Chemistry, Changchun Institute of Applied Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Changchun, 130022, China
| | - Jiangping Xu
- Key Laboratory of Materials Chemistry for Energy Conversion and Storage of Ministry of Education (HUST), Hubei Key Laboratory of Materials Chemistry and Service Failure, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Huazhong University of Science and Technology (HUST), Wuhan, 430074, China
| | - Jintao Zhu
- Key Laboratory of Materials Chemistry for Energy Conversion and Storage of Ministry of Education (HUST), Hubei Key Laboratory of Materials Chemistry and Service Failure, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Huazhong University of Science and Technology (HUST), Wuhan, 430074, China
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8
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Zeng H, Liang X, Roberts DA, Gillies ER, Müllner M. Self-Assembly of Rod-Coil Bottlebrush Copolymers into Degradable Nanodiscs with a UV-Triggered Self-Immolation Process. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2024; 63:e202318881. [PMID: 38320963 DOI: 10.1002/anie.202318881] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2023] [Revised: 01/31/2024] [Accepted: 02/05/2024] [Indexed: 02/08/2024]
Abstract
Polymer nanodiscs, especially with stimuli-responsive features, represent an unexplored frontier in the nanomaterial landscape. Such 2D nanomaterials are considered highly promising for advanced biomedicine applications. Herein, we designed a rod-coil copolymer architecture based on an amphiphilic, tadpole-like bottlebrush copolymer, which can directly self-assemble into core-shell nanodiscs in an aqueous environment. As the bottlebrush side chains are made of amorphous, UV-responsive poly(ethyl glyoxylate) (PEtG) chains, they can undergo rapid end-to-end self-immolation upon light irradiation. This triggered nanodisc disassembly can be used to boost small molecule release from the nanodisc core, which is further aided by a morphological change from discs to spheres.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haoxiang Zeng
- Key Centre for Polymers and Colloids, School of Chemistry, The University of Sydney, 2006, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Xiaoli Liang
- Department of Chemistry and Department of Chemical and Biochemical Engineering, The University of Western Ontario, N6A 5B7, London, Ontario, Canada
| | - Derrick A Roberts
- Key Centre for Polymers and Colloids, School of Chemistry, The University of Sydney, 2006, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Elizabeth R Gillies
- Department of Chemistry and Department of Chemical and Biochemical Engineering, The University of Western Ontario, N6A 5B7, London, Ontario, Canada
| | - Markus Müllner
- Key Centre for Polymers and Colloids, School of Chemistry, The University of Sydney, 2006, Sydney, NSW, Australia
- The University of Sydney Nano Institute (Sydney Nano), The University of Sydney, 2006, Sydney, NSW, Australia
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9
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Zhang Y, Yang L, Sun Y, Lin G, Manners I, Qiu H. Surface-Initiated Living Self-Assembly of Polythiophene-Based Conjugated Block Copolymer into Erect Micellar Brushes. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2024; 63:e202315740. [PMID: 38195825 DOI: 10.1002/anie.202315740] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2023] [Revised: 01/03/2024] [Accepted: 01/09/2024] [Indexed: 01/11/2024]
Abstract
Nanostructured conjugated polymers are of widespread interest due to their broad applications in organic optoelectronic devices, biomedical sensors and other fields. However, the alignment of conjugated nanostructures perpendicular to a surface remains a critical challenge. Herein, we report a facile method to directly self-assemble a poly(3-(2-ethylhexyl)thiophene), P3EHT-based block copolymer into densely aligned micellar brushes through surface-initiated living crystallization-driven self-assembly. The presence of an ethyl pendant on the side group intrinsically moderates the crystallization rate of the polythiophene main chains, and hence favors the controlled living growth of long conjugated fibers and the subsequent fabrication of conjugated micellar brushes. The corona of the micellar brush can be further decorated with platinum nanoparticles, which enables the formation of erect nanoarrays with heights up to 2700 nm in the dried state. This also renders the micellar brush catalytically active toward hydrogen evolution reaction, which shows a low overpotential of 27 mV at 10 mA cm-2 . Notably, the P3EHT-based micellar brush can simultaneously grow with polyferrocenyldimethylsilane, PFS-based micellar brush on the same surface without any significant interference between the two systems. Thus, these two micellar brushes can be patterned through site-selective immobilization of two types of seeds followed by independent living self-assembly.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuheng Zhang
- School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Zhangjiang Institute for Advanced Study, Frontiers Science Center for Transformative Molecules, State Key Laboratory of Metal Matrix Composites, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200240, China
| | - Lei Yang
- School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Zhangjiang Institute for Advanced Study, Frontiers Science Center for Transformative Molecules, State Key Laboratory of Metal Matrix Composites, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200240, China
| | - Yan Sun
- School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Zhangjiang Institute for Advanced Study, Frontiers Science Center for Transformative Molecules, State Key Laboratory of Metal Matrix Composites, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200240, China
| | - Geyu Lin
- School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Zhangjiang Institute for Advanced Study, Frontiers Science Center for Transformative Molecules, State Key Laboratory of Metal Matrix Composites, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200240, China
| | - Ian Manners
- Department of Chemistry, University of Victoria, Victoria, BC V8P5 C2, Canada
| | - Huibin Qiu
- School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Zhangjiang Institute for Advanced Study, Frontiers Science Center for Transformative Molecules, State Key Laboratory of Metal Matrix Composites, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200240, China
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10
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Brisson ERL, Worthington MJH, Kerai S, Müllner M. Nanoscale polymer discs, toroids and platelets: a survey of their syntheses and potential applications. Chem Soc Rev 2024; 53:1984-2021. [PMID: 38173417 DOI: 10.1039/d1cs01114f] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/05/2024]
Abstract
Polymer self-assembly has become a reliable and versatile workhorse to produce polymeric nanomaterials. With appropriate polymer design and monomer selection, polymers can assemble into shapes and morphologies beyond well-studied spherical and cylindrical micellar structures. Steadfast access to anisotropic polymer nanoparticles has meant that the fabrication and application of 2D soft matter has received increasing attention in recent years. In this review, we focus on nanoscale polymer discs, toroids, and platelets: three morphologies that are often interrelated and made from similar starting materials or common intermediates. For each morphology, we illustrate design rules, and group and discuss commonly used self-assembly strategies. We further highlight polymer compositions, fundamental principles and self-assembly conditions that enable precision in bottom-up fabrication strategies. Finally, we summarise potential applications of such nanomaterials, especially in the context of biomedical research and template chemistry and elaborate on future endeavours in this space.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emma R L Brisson
- Key Centre for Polymers and Colloids, School of Chemistry, The University of Sydney, Sydney 2006 NSW, Australia.
| | - Max J H Worthington
- Key Centre for Polymers and Colloids, School of Chemistry, The University of Sydney, Sydney 2006 NSW, Australia.
| | - Simran Kerai
- Key Centre for Polymers and Colloids, School of Chemistry, The University of Sydney, Sydney 2006 NSW, Australia.
| | - Markus Müllner
- Key Centre for Polymers and Colloids, School of Chemistry, The University of Sydney, Sydney 2006 NSW, Australia.
- The University of Sydney Nano Institute (Sydney Nano), The University of Sydney, Sydney 2006 NSW, Australia
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11
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Xie Y, Tong Z, Xia T, Worch JC, Rho JY, Dove AP, O'Reilly RK. 2D Hierarchical Microbarcodes with Expanded Storage Capacity for Optical Multiplex and Information Encryption. ADVANCED MATERIALS (DEERFIELD BEACH, FLA.) 2024; 36:e2308154. [PMID: 38014933 DOI: 10.1002/adma.202308154] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2023] [Revised: 11/16/2023] [Indexed: 11/29/2023]
Abstract
The design of nanosegregated fluorescent tags/barcodes by geometrical patterning with precise dimensions and hierarchies could integrate multilevel optical information within one carrier and enhance microsized barcoding techniques for ultrahigh-density optical data storage and encryption. However, precise control of the spatial distribution in micro/nanosized matrices intrinsically limits the accessible barcoding applications in terms of material design and construction. Here, crystallization forces are leveraged to enable a rapid, programmable molecular packing and rapid epitaxial growth of fluorescent units in 2D via crystallization-driven self-assembly. The fluorescence encoding density, scalability, information storage capacity, and decoding techniques of the robust 2D polymeric barcoding platform are explored systematically. These results provide both a theoretical and an experimental foundation for expanding the fluorescence storage capacity, which is a longstanding challenge in state-of-the-art microbarcoding techniques and establish a generalized and adaptable coding platform for high-throughput analysis and optical multiplexing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yujie Xie
- School of Chemistry, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham, B15 2TT, UK
- School of Medicine, Shanghai University, Shanghai, 200444, China
| | - Zaizai Tong
- School of Chemistry, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham, B15 2TT, UK
- College of Materials Science and Engineering, Zhejiang Sci-Tech University, Hangzhou, 310018, China
| | - Tianlai Xia
- School of Chemistry, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham, B15 2TT, UK
| | - Joshua C Worch
- School of Chemistry, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham, B15 2TT, UK
| | - Julia Y Rho
- School of Chemistry, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham, B15 2TT, UK
| | - Andrew P Dove
- School of Chemistry, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham, B15 2TT, UK
| | - Rachel K O'Reilly
- School of Chemistry, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham, B15 2TT, UK
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12
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Teng F, Xiang B, Liu L, Varlas S, Tong Z. Precise Control of Two-Dimensional Hexagonal Platelets via Scalable, One-Pot Assembly Pathways Using Block Copolymers with Crystalline Side Chains. J Am Chem Soc 2023; 145:28049-28060. [PMID: 38088129 DOI: 10.1021/jacs.3c09370] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/28/2023]
Abstract
Crystallization-driven self-assembly (CDSA) of block copolymers (BCPs) in selective solvents provides a promising route for direct access to two-dimensional (2D) platelet micelles with excellent uniformity, although significant limitations also exist for this robust approach, such as tedious, multistep procedures, and low yield of assembled materials. Herein, we report a facile strategy for massively preparing 2D, highly symmetric hexagonal platelets with precise control over their dimensions based on BCPs with crystalline side chains. Mechanistic studies unveiled that the formation of hexagonal platelets was subjected to a hierarchical self-assembly process, involving an initial stage of formation of kinetically trapped spheres upon cooling driven by solvophobic interactions, and a second stage of fusion of such spheres to the 2D nuclei to initiate the lateral growth of hexagonal platelets via sequential particle attachments driven by thermodynamically ordered reorganization of the BCP upon aging. Moreover, the size of the developed 2D hexagonal platelets could be finely regulated by altering the copolymer concentration over a broad concentration range, enabling scale-up to a total solids concentration of at least 6% w/w. Our work reveals a new mechanism to create uniform 2D core-shell nanoparticles dictated by crystallization and particle fusion, while it also provides an alternative facile strategy for the design of soft materials with precise control of their dimensions, as well as for the scalability of the derived nanostructures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Feiyang Teng
- School of Materials Science and Engineering and Institute of Smart Biomedical Materials, Zhejiang Sci-Tech University, Hangzhou 310018, China
| | - Bingbing Xiang
- School of Materials Science and Engineering and Institute of Smart Biomedical Materials, Zhejiang Sci-Tech University, Hangzhou 310018, China
| | - Liping Liu
- School of Materials Science and Engineering and Institute of Smart Biomedical Materials, Zhejiang Sci-Tech University, Hangzhou 310018, China
| | - Spyridon Varlas
- Department of Chemistry, University of Sheffield, Dainton Building, Brook Hill S3 7HF, Sheffield, U.K
| | - Zaizai Tong
- School of Materials Science and Engineering and Institute of Smart Biomedical Materials, Zhejiang Sci-Tech University, Hangzhou 310018, China
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13
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Jiang J, Nikbin E, Liu Y, Lei S, Ye G, Howe JY, Manners I, Winnik MA. Defect-Induced Secondary Crystals Drive Two-Dimensional to Three-Dimensional Morphological Evolution in the Co-Self-Assembly of Polyferrocenylsilane Block Copolymer and Homopolymer. J Am Chem Soc 2023; 145:28096-28110. [PMID: 38088827 DOI: 10.1021/jacs.3c09791] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/28/2023]
Abstract
Bottom-up fabrication protocols for uniform 3D hierarchical structures in solution are rare. We report two different approaches to fabricate uniform 3D spherulites and their precursors using mixtures of poly(ferrocenyldimethylsilane) (PFS) block copolymer (BCP) and PFS homopolymer (HP). Both protocols are designed to promote defects in 2D assemblies that serve as intermediate structures. In a multistep seeded growth protocol, we add the BCP/HP mixture to (1D) rod-like PFS micelles in a selective solvent as first-generation seeds. This leads to 2D platelet structures. If this step is conducted at a high supersaturation, secondary crystals form on the basal surface of these platelets. Co-crystallization and rapid crystallization of BCP/HP promote the formation of defects that act as nucleation sites for secondary crystals, resulting in multilayer platelets. This is the key step. The multilayer platelets serve as second-generation seeds upon subsequent addition of BCP/HP blends and, with increasing supersaturation, lead to the sequential formation of uniform (3D) hedrites, sheaves, and spherulites. Similar structures can also be obtained by a simple one-pot direct self-assembly (heating-cooling-aging) protocol of PFS BCP/HP blends. In this case, for a carefully chosen but narrow temperature range, PFS HPs nucleate formation of uniform structures, and the annealing temperature regulates the supersaturation level. In both protocols, the competitive crystallization kinetics of HP/BCP affects the morphology. Both protocols exhibit broad generality. We believe the morphological transformation from 2D to 3D structures, regulated by defect formation, co-crystallization, and supersaturation levels, could apply to various semicrystalline polymers. Moreover, the 3D structures are sufficiently robust to serve as recoverable carriers for nanoparticle catalysts, exhibiting valuable catalytic activity and opening new possibilities for applications requiring exquisite 3D structures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jingjie Jiang
- Department of Chemistry, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario M5S 3H6, Canada
| | - Ehsan Nikbin
- Department of Material Science and Engineering, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario M5S 3E4, Canada
| | - Yang Liu
- Department of Chemistry, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario M5S 3H6, Canada
| | - Shixing Lei
- Department of Chemistry, University of Victoria, Victoria, British Columbia V8P 5C2, Canada
| | - Gang Ye
- Institute of Nuclear and New Energy Technology, Tsinghua University, Beijing, 100084, China
| | - Jane Y Howe
- Department of Chemistry, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario M5S 3H6, Canada
- Department of Material Science and Engineering, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario M5S 3E4, Canada
- Department of Chemical Engineering and Applied Chemistry, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario M5S 3E2, Canada
| | - Ian Manners
- Department of Chemistry, University of Victoria, Victoria, British Columbia V8P 5C2, Canada
| | - Mitchell A Winnik
- Department of Chemistry, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario M5S 3H6, Canada
- Department of Material Science and Engineering, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario M5S 3E4, Canada
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14
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Xiao L, Parkinson SJ, Xia T, Edge P, O’Reilly RK. Enhancing the Scalability of Crystallization-Driven Self-Assembly Using Flow Reactors. ACS Macro Lett 2023; 12:1636-1641. [PMID: 37972303 PMCID: PMC10734305 DOI: 10.1021/acsmacrolett.3c00600] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2023] [Revised: 11/09/2023] [Accepted: 11/14/2023] [Indexed: 11/19/2023]
Abstract
Anisotropic materials have garnered significant attention due to their potential applications in cargo delivery, surface modification, and composite reinforcement. Crystallization-driven self-assembly (CDSA) is a practical way to access anisotropic structures, such as 2D platelets. Living CDSA, where platelets are formed by using seed particles, allows the platelet size to be well controlled. Nonetheless, the current method of platelet preparation is restricted to low concentrations and small scales, resulting in inefficient production, which hampers its potential for commercial applications. To address this limitation, continuous flow reactors were employed to improve the production efficiency. Flow platforms ensure consistent product quality by maintaining the same parameters throughout the process, circumventing batch-to-batch variations and discrepancies observed during scale-up. In this study, we present the first demonstration of living CDSA performed within flow reactors. A continuous flow system was established, and the epitaxial growth of platelets was initially conducted to study the influence of flow parameters such as temperature, residence time, and flow rate on the morphology of platelets. Comparison of different epitaxial growth manners of seeds and platelets was made when using seeds to perform living CDSA. Size-controllable platelets from seeds can be obtained from a series flow system by easily tuning flow rates. Additionally, uniform platelets were continuously collected, exhibiting improved size and dispersity compared to those obtained in batch reactions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laihui Xiao
- School of Chemistry, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham B15 2TT, U.K.
| | - Sam J. Parkinson
- School of Chemistry, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham B15 2TT, U.K.
| | - Tianlai Xia
- School of Chemistry, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham B15 2TT, U.K.
| | - Phillippa Edge
- School of Chemistry, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham B15 2TT, U.K.
| | - Rachel K. O’Reilly
- School of Chemistry, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham B15 2TT, U.K.
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15
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Xia T, Tong Z, Xie Y, Arno MC, Lei S, Xiao L, Rho JY, Ferguson CTJ, Manners I, Dove AP, O’Reilly RK. Tuning the Functionality of Self-Assembled 2D Platelets in the Third Dimension. J Am Chem Soc 2023; 145:25274-25282. [PMID: 37938914 PMCID: PMC10682995 DOI: 10.1021/jacs.3c08770] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2023] [Revised: 10/12/2023] [Accepted: 10/13/2023] [Indexed: 11/10/2023]
Abstract
The decoration of 2D nanostructures using heteroepitaxial growth is of great importance to achieve functional assemblies employed in biomedical, electrical, and mechanical applications. Although the functionalization of polymers before self-assembly has been investigated, the exploration of direct surface modification in the third dimension from 2D nanostructures has, to date, been unexplored. Here, we used living crystallization-driven self-assembly to fabricate poly(ε-caprolactone)-based 2D platelets with controlled size. Importantly, surface modification of the platelets in the third dimension was achieved by using functional monomers and light-induced polymerization. This method allows us to selectively regulate the height and fluorescence properties of the nanostructures. Using this approach, we gained unprecedented spatial control over the surface functionality in the specific region of complex 2D platelets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tianlai Xia
- School
of Chemistry, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham, B15 2TT, U.K.
| | - Zaizai Tong
- School
of Chemistry, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham, B15 2TT, U.K.
- College
of Materials Science and Engineering, Zhejiang
Sci-Tech University, Hangzhou 310018, People’s
Republic of China
| | - Yujie Xie
- School
of Chemistry, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham, B15 2TT, U.K.
| | - Maria C. Arno
- School
of Chemistry, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham, B15 2TT, U.K.
- Institute
of Cancer and Genomic Sciences, University
of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham B15 2TT, U.K.
| | - Shixing Lei
- Department
of Chemistry, University of Victoria, Victoria, BC V8P 5C2, Canada
| | - Laihui Xiao
- School
of Chemistry, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham, B15 2TT, U.K.
| | - Julia Y. Rho
- School
of Chemistry, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham, B15 2TT, U.K.
| | - Calum T. J. Ferguson
- School
of Chemistry, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham, B15 2TT, U.K.
| | - Ian Manners
- Department
of Chemistry, University of Victoria, Victoria, BC V8P 5C2, Canada
- Centre
for Advanced Materials and Related Technology (CAMTEC), University of Victoria, 3800 Finnerty Road, Victoria, BC V8P 5C2, Canada
| | - Andrew P. Dove
- School
of Chemistry, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham, B15 2TT, U.K.
| | - Rachel K. O’Reilly
- School
of Chemistry, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham, B15 2TT, U.K.
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16
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Zhu L, Liu L, Varlas S, Wang RY, O'Reilly RK, Tong Z. Understanding the Seeded Heteroepitaxial Growth of Crystallizable Polymers: The Role of Crystallization Thermodynamics. ACS NANO 2023. [PMID: 37979190 DOI: 10.1021/acsnano.3c09130] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2023]
Abstract
Seeded heteroepitaxial growth is a "living" crystallization-driven self-assembly (CDSA) method that has emerged as a promising route to create uniform segmented nanoparticles with diverse core chemistries by using chemically distinct core-forming polymers. Our previous results have demonstrated that crystallization kinetics is a key factor that determines the occurrence of heteroepitaxial growth, but an in-depth understanding of controlling heteroepitaxy from the perspective of crystallization thermodynamics is yet unknown. Herein, we select crystallizable aliphatic polycarbonates (PxCs) with a different number of methylene groups (xCH2, x = 4, 6, 7, 12) in their repeating units as model polymers to explore the effect of lattice match and core compatibility on the seeded growth behavior. Seeded growth of PxCs-containing homopolymer/block copolymer blend unimers from poly(ε-caprolactone) (PCL) core-forming seed platelet micelles exhibits distinct crystal growth behavior at subambient temperatures, which is governed by the lattice match and core compatibility. A case of seeded growth with better core compatibility and a smaller lattice mismatch follows epitaxial growth, where the newly created crystal domain has the same structural orientation as the original platelet substrate. In contrast, a case of seeded growth with better core compatibility but a larger lattice mismatch shows nonepitaxial growth with less-defined crystal orientations in the platelet plane. Additionally, a case of seeded growth with poor core compatibility and larger lattice mismatch results in polydisperse platelet micelles, whereby crystal formation is not nucleated from the crystalline substrate. These findings reveal important factors that govern the specific crystal growth during a seeded growth approach by using compositionally distinct cores, which would further guide researchers in designing 2D segmented materials via polymer crystallization approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lingyuan Zhu
- School of Materials Science and Engineering, Zhejiang Sci-Tech University, Hangzhou 310018, P. R. China
| | - Liping Liu
- School of Materials Science and Engineering, Zhejiang Sci-Tech University, Hangzhou 310018, P. R. China
| | - Spyridon Varlas
- Department of Chemistry, University of Sheffield, Dainton Building, Brook Hill, Sheffield S3 7HF, U.K
| | - Rui-Yang Wang
- Shaanxi International Research Center for Soft Matter, State Key Laboratory for Mechanical Behavior of Materials, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an 710049, P. R. China
| | - Rachel K O'Reilly
- School of Chemistry, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham B15 2TT, United Kingdom
| | - Zaizai Tong
- School of Materials Science and Engineering, Zhejiang Sci-Tech University, Hangzhou 310018, P. R. China
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