Large-scale ordering of nanoparticles using viscoelastic shear processing

Qibin Zhao (), Chris E. Finlayson, David R. E. Snoswell, Andrew Haines, Christian Schäfer, Peter Spahn, Goetz P. Hellmann, Andrei V. Petukhov, Lars Herrmann, Pierre Burdet, Paul A. Midgley, Simon Butler, Malcolm Mackley, Qixin Guo and Jeremy J. Baumberg ()
Additional contact information
Qibin Zhao: Nanophotonics Centre, Cavendish Laboratory, University of Cambridge
Chris E. Finlayson: Prifysgol Aberystwyth University
David R. E. Snoswell: Schlumberger Gould Research Center
Andrew Haines: Nanophotonics Centre, Cavendish Laboratory, University of Cambridge
Christian Schäfer: Deutsches Kunststoff-Institut (DKI)
Peter Spahn: Deutsches Kunststoff-Institut (DKI)
Goetz P. Hellmann: Deutsches Kunststoff-Institut (DKI)
Andrei V. Petukhov: Van’t Hoff Laboratory for Physical and Colloid Chemistry, Debye Institute for Nanomaterials Science, Utrecht University
Lars Herrmann: Nanophotonics Centre, Cavendish Laboratory, University of Cambridge
Pierre Burdet: University of Cambridge
Paul A. Midgley: University of Cambridge
Simon Butler: University of Cambridge
Malcolm Mackley: University of Cambridge
Qixin Guo: Synchrotron Light Application Center, Saga University
Jeremy J. Baumberg: Nanophotonics Centre, Cavendish Laboratory, University of Cambridge

Nature Communications, 2016, vol. 7, issue 1, 1-10

Abstract: Abstract Despite the availability of elaborate varieties of nanoparticles, their assembly into regular superstructures and photonic materials remains challenging. Here we show how flexible films of stacked polymer nanoparticles can be directly assembled in a roll-to-roll process using a bending-induced oscillatory shear technique. For sub-micron spherical nanoparticles, this gives elastomeric photonic crystals termed polymer opals showing extremely strong tunable structural colour. With oscillatory strain amplitudes of 300%, crystallization initiates at the wall and develops quickly across the bulk within only five oscillations. The resulting structure of random hexagonal close-packed layers is improved by shearing bidirectionally, alternating between two in-plane directions. Our theoretical framework indicates how the reduction in shear viscosity with increasing order of each layer accounts for these results, even when diffusion is totally absent. This general principle of shear ordering in viscoelastic media opens the way to manufacturable photonic materials, and forms a generic tool for ordering nanoparticles.

Date: 2016
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DOI: 10.1038/ncomms11661

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