Title | Self-Propelled Supracolloidal Fibers from Multifunctional Polymer Surfactants and Droplets. |
Publication Type | Journal Article |
Year of Publication | 2020 |
Authors | Zhao, J, Chalarca, CFernando S, Nunes, JK, Stone, HA, Emrick, T |
Journal | Macromol Rapid Commun |
Volume | 41 |
Issue | 15 |
Pagination | e2000334 |
Date Published | 2020 Aug |
ISSN | 1521-3927 |
Keywords | Benzopyrans, Emulsions, Hexanes, Indoles, Light, Materials Science, Microscopy, Fluorescence, Models, Chemical, Motion, Nitro Compounds, Polymers, Surface Properties, Surface Tension, Surface-Active Agents, Ultraviolet Rays, Water |
Abstract | <p>Advanced synthetic materials are needed to produce nano- and mesoscale structures that function autonomously, catalyze reactions, and convert chemical energy into motion. This paper describes supracolloidal fiber-like structures that are composed of self-adhering, or "sticky," oil-in-water emulsion droplets. Polymer zwitterion surfactants serve as the key interfacial components of these materials, enabling multiple functions simultaneously, including acting as droplet-stabilizing surfactants, interdroplet adhesives, and building blocks of the fibers. This fiber motion, a surprising additional feature of these supracolloidal structures, is observed at the air-water interface and hinged on the chemistry of the polymer surfactant. The origin of this motion is hypothesized to involve transport of polymer from the oil-water interface to the air-water interface, which generates a Marangoni (interfacial) stress. Harnessing this fiber motion with functional polymer surfactants, and selection of the oil phase, produced worm-like objects capable of rotation, oscillation, and/or response to external fields. Overall, these supracolloidal fibers fill a design gap between self-propelled nano/microscale particles and macroscale motors, and have the potential to serve as new components of soft, responsive materials structures.</p> |
DOI | 10.1002/marc.202000334 |
Alternate Journal | Macromol Rapid Commun |
PubMed ID | 32671939 |
Grant List | NSF-CCI-1740630 / / National Science Foundation / |