Synthesis and Self-Assembly of Colloidal Molecules

• Applicant: Professor Dr. Bart Jan Ravoo
• Subject Area: Physical Chemistry of Molecules, Liquids and Interfaces, Biophysical Chemistry
• Term: from 2016 to 2020
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 332724669

Most colloids are isotropic particles that assemble in regular crystal structures in solution and on surfaces. The general aim of this bilateral Sino-German collaboration is to develop innovative methods to prepare colloidal molecules, i.e. well-defined 1D, 2D and 3D clusters of anisotropic "Janus" or "patchy" particles and to investigate the self-assembly of such colloidal molecules in solution and on surfaces. This proposal has three central objectives: 1) Generation of Janus particles functionalized with polymer brushes; 2) Preparation, assembly and manipulation of Janus particles in a magnetic field; 3) Preparation and self-assembly of microscale inverse opals with polymer brushes, which should give rise to self-assembled photonic structures.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants
• International Connection: China
• Cooperation Partner: Professor Dr. Guangtao Li