Interfacial self-assembly of nanoparticles into macroscopic, monolayered films

Abstract

This article offers an overview of recent advances in directing self-assembly of nanoparticles (NPs) at the interfaces between two immiscible fluids, which is aimed at emphasizing that the fluidic interfaces can endow NPs with sufficient mobility to minimize far-from-equilibrium effects and thus direct the self-assembly of NPs into monolayered films with single crystalline domains potentially being macroscopically large. It commences with a brief review of the interfacial adsorption behavior of NPs, which plays the central role in interfacial self-assembly of NPs, and the interaction balance between the NPs adsorbing at fluidic interfaces. The following section is an overview of the state-of-the-art of directed self-assembly of nanoparticles at the interfaces between vapor and liquid and between two immiscible liquids. Subsequently, it will focus on several key variables governing the NP self-assembly at the interfaces and elaboration of their impacts on the structural features of the resulting NP monolayered films. Finally, the technical benefits of interfacial NP self-assembly are outlined, followed by an outlook of the upcoming technical challenges and emerging perspectives in the field.