Supracolloidal Architectures Self-Assembled in Microdroplets.
We demonstrate a novel method for the formation of a library of structured colloidal assemblies by exploiting the supramolecular heteroternary host-guest interaction between cucurbit[8]uril (CB[8]) and methyl viologen- and naphthalene-functionalised particles. The approach is dependent upon compartmentalisation in microdroplets generated by a microfluidic platform. Though the distribution of colloidal particles encapsulated within each microdroplet followed a Poisson distribution, tuning the concentration of the initial colloidal particle suspensions provided some level of control over the structure of the formed colloidal assemblies. This ability to direct the assembly of complementarily-functionalised colloids through a supramolecular interaction, without the need for complex modification of the colloidal surface or external stimuli, presents an exciting new approach towards the design of structured colloidal materials with the potential to produce many challenging structures.
Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, Lensfield Road, Cambridge CB2 1EW (UK).
Xuejiao
X
Xu
Melville Laboratory for Polymer Synthesis, Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, Lensfield Road, Cambridge CB2 1EW (UK).
Feng
F
Tian
Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, Lensfield Road, Cambridge CB2 1EW (UK).
Xin
X
Liu
Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, Lensfield Road, Cambridge CB2 1EW (UK).
Richard M
RM
Parker
Melville Laboratory for Polymer Synthesis, Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, Lensfield Road, Cambridge CB2 1EW (UK).
Yang
Y
Lan
Melville Laboratory for Polymer Synthesis, Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, Lensfield Road, Cambridge CB2 1EW (UK).
Yuchao
Y
Wu
Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, Lensfield Road, Cambridge CB2 1EW (UK).
Ziyi
Z
Yu
Melville Laboratory for Polymer Synthesis, Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, Lensfield Road, Cambridge CB2 1EW (UK). oas23@cam.ac.uk.
Oren A
OA
Scherman
Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, Lensfield Road, Cambridge CB2 1EW (UK). ca26@cam.ac.uk.
Chris
C
Abell
colloids; droplet-based microfluidics; host-guest systems; self-assembly; supramolecular chemistry