title: Self-assembly of nanoparticles onto the surfaces of polystyrene spheres with a tunable composition and loading.
abstract: Functional colloidal materials were prepared by design through the self-assembly of nanoparticles (NPs) on the surfaces of polystyrene (PS) spheres with control over NP surface coverage, NP-to-NP spacing, and NP composition. The ability to control and fine tune the coating was extended to the first demonstration of the co-assembly of NPs of dissimilar composition onto the same PS sphere, forming a multi-component coating. A broad range of NP decorated PS (PS@NPs) spheres were prepared with uniform coatings attributed to electrostatic and hydrogen bonding interactions between stabilizing groups on the NPs and the functionalized surfaces of the PS spheres. This versatile two-step method provides more fine control than methods previously demonstrated in the literature. These decorated PS spheres are of interest for a number of applications, such as catalytic reactions where the PS spheres provide a support for the dispersion, stabilization, and recovery of NP catalysts. The catalytic properties of these PS@NPs spheres were assessed by studying the catalytic degradation of azo dyes, an environmental contaminant detrimental to eye health. The PS@NPs spheres were used in multiple, sequential catalytic reactions while largely retaining the NP coating.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry and 4D LABS, Simon Fraser University, 8888 University Dr, Burnaby, BC V5A 1S6, Canada.
authors.forename: Brandy K
authors.initials: BK
authors.lastname: Pilapil
authors.forename: Michael C P
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Michael T Y
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Paul
authors.forename: Amir
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Nazemi
authors.forename: Byron D
authors.initials: BD
authors.lastname: Gates
mesh_terms: D001391:Azo Compounds / Q000378:metabolism; D002384:Catalysis; D053758:Nanoparticles / Q000737:chemistry*; D036103:Nanotechnology; D011137:Polystyrenes
chemical_list: D001391:Azo Compounds; D011137:Polystyrenes