title: Orthogonal light-induced self-assembly of nanoparticles using differently substituted azobenzenes.
abstract: Precise control of the self-assembly of selected components within complex mixtures is a challenging goal whose realization is important for fabricating novel nanomaterials. Herein we show that by decorating the surfaces of metallic nanoparticles with differently substituted azobenzenes, it is possible to modulate the wavelength of light at which the self-assembly of these nanoparticles is induced. Exposing a mixture of two types of nanoparticles, each functionalized with a different azobenzene, to UV or blue light induces the selective self-assembly of only one type of nanoparticles. Irradiation with the other wavelength triggers the disassembly of the aggregates, and the simultaneous self-assembly of nanoparticles of the other type. By placing both types of azobenzenes on the same nanoparticles, we created unique materials ("frustrated" nanoparticles) whose self-assembly is induced irrespective of the wavelength of the incident light.
authors.affiliation: Department of Organic Chemistry, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot 76100 (Israel).
authors.forename: Debasish
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Manna
authors.affiliation: Department of Organic Chemistry, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot 76100 (Israel).
authors.forename: Thumu
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Udayabhaskararao
authors.affiliation: Department of Organic Chemistry, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot 76100 (Israel).
authors.forename: Hui
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.affiliation: Department of Organic Chemistry, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot 76100 (Israel). rafal.klajn@weizmann.ac.il.
authors.forename: Rafal
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Klajn
mesh_terms: D001391:Azo Compounds / Q000737:chemistry*; D006046:Gold / Q000737:chemistry*; D008027:Light; D053768:Metal Nanoparticles / Q000737:chemistry*; D015394:Molecular Structure; D010316:Particle Size; D013056:Spectrophotometry, Ultraviolet; D013499:Surface Properties
chemical_list: D001391:Azo Compounds; D006046:Gold; C009850:azobenzene
keywords: azo compounds; nanoparticles; photochemistry; self-assembly; stimuli-responsive materials