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Shape-memory nanoparticles from inherently non-spherical polymer colloids

Nature Materials volume 4, pages 486–490 (2005)Cite this article

Abstract

Samples of polymeric materials generally have no intrinsic shape; rather their macroscopic form is determined by external forces such as surface tension and memory of shear (for example, during extrusion, moulding or embossing). Hence, in the molten state, the thermodynamically most stable form for polymer (nano)particles is spherical. Here, we present the first example of polymer nanoparticles that have an intrinsic non-spherical shape. We observe the formation of high-aspect-ratio ellipsoidal polymer nanoparticles, of controlled diameter, made from main-chain liquid crystalline polymers using a mini-emulsion technique. The ellipsoidal shape is shown to be an equilibrium (reversible) characteristic and a direct result of the material shape memory when a liquid crystal nanoparticle is in its monodomain form.

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Figure 1: Chemical structures of the polymers used in this study.
Figure 2: SEM images of main-chain polyether nanoparticles with different morphologies and sizes.
Figure 3: SEM images of main-chain polyether nanoparticles.
Figure 4: SEM images of F8BT nanoparticles with different shapes and sizes.
Figure 5: SEM images of PFO nanoparticles with different shapes and sizes.
Figure 6: SEM images of annealed PFO nanoparticles.

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Acknowledgements

Z.Y. thanks the Overseas Research Studentship and Gates Cambridge Trust for financial support.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Chemistry, Melville Laboratory for Polymer Synthesis, University of Cambridge, Lensfield Road, Cambridge, CB2 1EW, UK

    Zhongqiang Yang

  2. The Nanoscience Centre, J J Thomson Avenue, Cambridge, CB3 0FF, UK

    Wilhelm T. S. Huck

  3. BP Institute, University of Cambridge, Madingley Rise, Madingley Road, Cambridge, CB3 0EZ, UK

    Stuart M. Clarke

  4. Cavendish Laboratory, University of Cambridge, Madingley Road, Cambridge, CB3 0HE, UK

    Ali R. Tajbakhsh & Eugene M. Terentjev

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  1. Zhongqiang Yang
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  2. Wilhelm T. S. Huck
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  5. Eugene M. Terentjev
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Correspondence to Wilhelm T. S. Huck.

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Supplementary table 1 and supplementary figures 1 and 2 (PDF 1275 kb)

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Yang, Z., Huck, W., Clarke, S. et al. Shape-memory nanoparticles from inherently non-spherical polymer colloids. Nature Mater 4, 486–490 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1038/nmat1389

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