title: Periodicity-controlled two-dimensional crystalline colloidal arrays.
abstract: We developed a convenient and fast approach to preparing close-packed two-dimensional (2-D) particle arrays on mercury surfaces. Addition of cosolvents, such as alcohols, to aqueous colloidal particle suspensions induces spreading and self-assembly of the particles into 2-D arrays on top of the mercury surface. We can fabricate large-area close-packed 2-D arrays (>70 cm(2)) within 30 s. We attached these 2-D arrays to functional hydrogel films such that the 2-D array spacings were altered by the hydrogel volume response to the environment. We directly observed the hydrogel volume induced 2-D array spacing changes by using confocal laser scanning microscopy to monitor the spacings of fluorescent polystyrene particle 2-D arrays in response to changes in pH, solvent composition, temperature, etc.
authors: Department of Chemistry, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15260, USA.
authors: Jian-Tao
authors: JT
authors: Zhang
authors: Luling
authors: L
authors: Wang
authors: Xing
authors: X
authors: Chao
authors: Sanford A
authors: SA
authors: Asher