Performance of Janus Particles in the Self-Assembly Fabrication of Nanoparticle-Decorated Honeycomb-Structured Polymeric Films via the Breath Figures Patterning Technique

摘要

The breath figures (BFs) patterning technique represents a simple, robust method for producing microstructured honeycomb-patterned porous polymer films. Nanoparticles can self-assemble by spontaneous adsorption onto the interfaces between the templating water droplets and the polymer solvent in order to achieve controlled micrometer and nanometer scale hierarchical structures. Amphiphilic Janus nanoparticles are expected to optimize the films with regards to nanoparticle decorating density within the pores as well as ordering degree of the honeycomb structures given their dual role as Pickering emulsion stabilizing agents and as highly effective solid surfactants, resulting in a significant improvement over what has been achieved using isotropic nanoparticles. Exposed surfaces of silica particles embedded in spherical wax structures (colloidosomes) are chemically modified to render half of the particle hydrophobic. A reliable method for producing optimal colloidosome coverage has been established. Upon successful synthesis of amphiphilic Janus particles, most reliably confirmed by a two-phase interface test, they are employed in the BFs templating method for the first time. Characterization of the resulting films’ morphologies will help draw conclusions on the interfacial behavior and self-assembly performance of the Janus particles, as well as the general mechanism of structure formation in the BFs patterning technique.