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Controlling the Shape of Evaporating Droplets by Ionic Strength: Formation of Highly Anisometric Silica Supraparticles
Author(s) -
Sperling Marcel,
Velev Orlin D.,
Gradzielski Michael
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
angewandte chemie international edition
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 5.831
H-Index - 550
eISSN - 1521-3773
pISSN - 1433-7851
DOI - 10.1002/anie.201307401
Subject(s) - colloid , fumed silica , materials science , evaporation , chemical engineering , substrate (aquarium) , nanotechnology , chemistry , composite material , oceanography , physics , engineering , thermodynamics , geology
Anisometric silica supraparticles are produced by a simple process of evaporation of sessile droplets containing fumed silica deposited on a superhydrophobic substrate. The shape of the supraparticles is directly controlled by the salt (NaCl) concentration, becoming anisometric beyond a threshold concentration, as quantified by light microscopy. This process is easily extended to supraparticles containing further functional colloidal components.