title: Field-controlled self-assembly and disassembly of colloidal nanoparticles.
abstract: Self-assembly of nanoparticles is one of the most promising methods for the preparation of novel materials and devices with exceptional properties. In order to control nanoparticles self-assembly, an understanding of their interactions is absolutely necessary. One convenient way to  achieve a control on their interaction is through the use of external fields. Here we provide two different examples of how interparticle interactions are affected by interactions with external fields. In the first case, magnetic fields are used to induce dipolar interactions among concentrated  suspension of superparamagnetic nanocolloids, which cause them to self-assemble into dense chain-like anisotropic structures, used as templates for the growth of porous materials with tunable properties. In the second case, it is shown how more commonly employed but less understood flow fields  interact with clusters of particles, and lead to their restructuring or disassembly depending upon the shear stress applied.
authors: ETH Zürich, Department of Chemistry and Applied Biosciences, Institute for Chemical and Bioengineering, Wolfgang Pauli Strasse 10, CH-8093 Zürich, Switzerland. marco.lattuada@chem.ethz.ch
authors: Marco
authors: M
authors: Lattuada
authors: Marco
authors: M
authors: Furlan
authors: Yogesh
authors: Y
authors: Harshe
mesh_terms: D002621:Chemistry / Q000379:methods*; D003102:Colloids / Q000737:chemistry*; D003198:Computer Simulation; D007700:Kinetics; D008280:Magnetics; D008422:Materials Testing; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning / Q000379:methods; D053758:Nanoparticles / Q000737:chemistry*; D036103:Nanotechnology / Q000379:methods*; D016062:Porosity; D011312:Pressure; D012822:Silicon Dioxide / Q000737:chemistry; D055672:Static Electricity; D013696:Temperature; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D003102:Colloids; D012822:Silicon Dioxide