self-assembly – TechConnect Briefs

Impact of Colloidal Stability on Cellulose Nanocrystals Self-Ordering in Thin Films

Bruel C., Tavares J.R., Carreau P.J., Heuzey M.-C., polytechnique montreal, CA

Sulfuric acid hydrolyzed cellulose nanocrystals (CNC) display interesting self-ordering properties in water. Applications include water casting of optically active CNC- based materials and composites. N,N-dimethylformamide (DMF)-cast materials do not display as good properties. Variations in [...]

Self-assembly via a quantum control tracking system

Kohn W., Zabinsky Z., Nerode A., Veritone, US

A nano-manufacturing facility requires high levels of precision due to the strong quantum effects for devices at a 2 to 4 nanometer footprint. We develop a feedback process control to realize a 3-D scaffolding approach. [...]

Modeling of polypeptide- and polymer-conjugated nanoparticles for drug delivery application

Lee H.K., Dankook University, KR

Nanoparticles such as liposomes, dendrimers, and carbon nanotubes have many potential biomedical applications as antitumor therapeutics and drug delivery. These applications require the interaction of those with cell membranes, thus interactions of nanoparticles, polymers, and [...]

Integrated Surface-Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy Sensors for Process Monitoring

Zhang K., Zhang X., Rabin O., Zhang K., Zhang X., Briber R.M., von Bredow H., Metting C., Atanasoff G., University of Maryland, US

Optical metamaterials obtain their unique properties from the combination of nanoscale plasmonic components and dielectric components. Reproducible mass-production of metamaterials is challenging but desirable for applications such as surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) for chemical sensing. [...]

Feedback Process Control for Nano-manufacturing of Semi-conductor Circuits

Kohn W., Zabinsky Z.B., Atigeo, LLC and CUNY Graduate Center, Computer Science Department, US

We develop a feedback process control to realize 3-D circuits with a 2 to 4 nanometer footprint, using a heavily modified ink-jet based nano-manufacturing facility that includes actuator controls driven by pulsed femto lasers. At [...]

Confinement Chemistry in Self-Assembling Polymer-Metal Nanoreactors

McTaggart M., Malardier-Jugroot C., Royal Military College of Canada, CA

We have developed and thoroughly characterized stable polymer-metal nanocomposite reactor systems with hydrophobic inner surfaces 2-3 nm apart. Previous work has shown that energetically unfavourable reactions, namely pyrrole polymerization and metal salt reduction, spontaneously occur [...]

DNA Double-Write Photolithography: A Synergy for Top-Down and Bottom-Up Nanofabrication

Heller M.J., Song Y., University of California San Diego, US

Intrinsic programmability and other unique properties of DNA allow it to be used as a self-assembly nanostructure material, easily functionalized with nanoparticles and other entities, and as a UV sensitive write material for patterning. Thus, [...]

The Secret of Chia Gel Revealed – Nanoscale 3D Network Retards and Prolongs Food Release

Pottackal N., Das P., Samateh M., John G., The City College of New York, US

Chia Gels have been associated with numerous health benefits over centuries, like curbing diabetes and obesity by retarding digestion rate and quenching craving for more food. However, the exact mode of gelation has always been [...]

New Insights into Microstructure, Rheology & Molecular Level Structural Changes During Self-Assembly & Gelation in Complex Fluids Through Combined DLS-Optical Microrheology-Raman Spectroscopy

Amin S., Blake S., Kidder L., Lewis E.N., Kenyon S., Malvern Instruments, US

Soft Matter/Complex fluid systems are ubiquitous across a range of industrial and consumer sectors. In many instances the final product format of these complex fluids are gels or soft solids and the processing and product [...]

Biomimetic Nanoreactors via in situ Synthesis of Atomically-Thin Gold Sheets and Platinum Nanoclusters

McTaggart M., Malardier-Jugroot C., Jugroot M., Malardier-Jugroot C., Royal Military College of Canada, CA

We present the synthesis and activity of broadly stable polymer-metal nanoreactors capable of confinement-enhanced catalysis. Poly(styrene-alt-maleic acid), SMA, is known to self-assemble in water into highly organized supramolecular nanostructures containing confined polar and non-polar reaction [...]