title: Polyelectrolyte-stabilized graphene oxide liquid crystals against salt, pH, and serum.
abstract: Stabilization of colloids is of great significance in nanoscience for their fundamental research and practical applications. Electrostatic repulsion-stabilized anisotropic colloids, such as graphene oxide (GO), can form stable liquid crystals (LCs). However, the electrostatic field would be screened by ions. To stabilize colloidal LCs against electrolyte is an unsolved challenge. Here, an effective strategy is proposed to stabilize GO LCs under harsh conditions by association of polyelectrolytes onto GO sheets. Using sodium poly(styrene sulfonate) (PSS) and poly[2-(methacryloyloxy)ethyl]dimethyl-(3-sulfopropyl)ammonium hydroxide (PMEDSAH), a kind of polyzwitterion, GO LCs were well-maintained in the presence of NaCl (from 0 M to saturated), extreme pH (from 1 to 13), and serum. Moreover, PSS- or PMEDSAH-coated chemically reduced GO (rGO) also showed stability against electrolyte.
authors.affiliation: Ministry of Education (MOE) Key Laboratory of Macromolecular Synthesis and Functionalization, Department of Polymer Science and Engineering, Zhejiang University , 38 Zheda Road, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310027, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Xiaoli
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.forename: Zhen
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.forename: Yang
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Xie
authors.forename: Bingna
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Zheng
authors.forename: Liang
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Kou
authors.forename: Chao
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Gao
mesh_terms: D003102:Colloids; D004573:Electrolytes; D006108:Graphite / Q000737:chemistry*; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D050866:Liquid Crystals / Q000737:chemistry*; D008689:Methacrylates / Q000737:chemistry*; D010087:Oxides; D011137:Polystyrenes / Q000737:chemistry*; D000644:Quaternary Ammonium Compounds / Q000737:chemistry*; D012965:Sodium Chloride / Q000737:chemistry; D055672:Static Electricity; D013499:Surface Properties
chemical_list: D003102:Colloids; D004573:Electrolytes; D008689:Methacrylates; D010087:Oxides; D011137:Polystyrenes; D000644:Quaternary Ammonium Compounds; C568649:poly(2-(methacryloyloxy)ethyl dimethyl-(3-sulfopropyl)ammonium hydroxide); D012965:Sodium Chloride; C003321:polystyrene sulfonic acid; D006108:Graphite