Liquid Tubules by the Self-Assembly of Self-Regulating NP Surfactants - Area 9.1 Materials by Design
Abstract
Major Goals: Dendrimer-based nanoparticles, DNPs, will assemble at the interface between two immiscible fluids, forming a disordered monolayer at the interface that will stabilize spherical droplets of one fluid in another and, also, prevent coalescence. Due to the inherent negative charge of the oil/water interface, DNPs dispersed in an aqueous medium, are not interfacially active. However, with polymers, having a complementary functionality dissolved in the oil phase, the interactions between the NPs and the functionalized polymers at the interface result in the formation of DNP-surfactants at the interface between the two fluids, i.e. by appending a well-defined number of polymer ligands that are hydrophobic to the NPs that are hydrophilic, DNP-surfactants are formed increasing the energy holding each NP-surfactant at the interface. When the fluids are deformed, more DNP-surfactants will form at the interface and, when relaxed, the DNP-surfactants jam at the interface, locking in non-spherical shapes. Unlike hard NPs, the DNP are soft, and the nature of the jamming and potential deformation of the DNPs when compressed is unknown and will be investigated. We will take advantage of jamming behavior to generate tubules of one liquid in another by Electrospinning, producing droplets of one fluid in another with a microfluidic device, or by jetting one fluid in a second affording a platform for the fabrication of all-liquid separations media or encapsulants that we will gear towards soldier-in-the-field applications. Being all fluid, the devices are resistant to shock and, if disrupted, the DNP-surfactant assemblies will self-heal, enhancing the integrity and longevity of devices. Alternative strategies will be used, in particular using polyelectrolyte-based materials to effect the all liquids constructs.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Mar 14, 2020
- Accession Number
- AD1114110
Entities
People
- Thomas Paul Russell
Organizations
- University of Massachusetts Amherst