Soft-patchy nanoparticles: modeling and self-organization

Soft-patchy nanoparticles: modeling and self-organization.

We consider a novel class of patchy particles inspired by polymer-based complex units where the limited valence in bonding is accompanied by soft interactions and incessant fluctuations of the patch positions, possibly leading to reversible modifications of the patch number and size. We introduce a simple model that takes into account the aforementioned features and we focus on the role played ...

Grafted nanoparticles as soft patchy colloids: self-assembly versus phase separation.

We investigate the thermodynamic behavior of a model polymer-grafted nanoparticle (GNP) system on a fine lattice, using grand canonical Monte Carlo simulations, to compare and contrast the validity of two different models for GNPs: "nanoparticle amphiphiles" versus "patchy particles." In the former model, continuous self-assembly processes are expected to dominate the system, whereas the latter...

Self-organization of nanoparticles

Linear assembly of patchy and non-patchy nanoparticles.

Linear assemblies of nanoparticles show promising applications due to their collective electronic, optical and magnetic properties. Rational design and controllable organization of nanoparticles in one-dimensional structures can strongly benefit from the marked similarity between conventional step-growth polymerization reactions and directional step-wise assembly of nanoparticles in linear chai...

Limiting the valence: advancements and new perspectives on patchy colloids, soft functionalized nanoparticles and biomolecules.

Limited bonding valence, usually accompanied by well-defined directional interactions and selective bonding mechanisms, is nowadays considered among the key ingredients to create complex structures with tailored properties: even though isotropically interacting units already guarantee access to a vast range of functional materials, anisotropic interactions can provide extra instructions to stee...