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SUMMARY:Self-organization of inorganic nanostructures: A polymer scientist
  approach - Prof. Eugenia Kumacheva (University of Toronto)
DTSTART:20100618T110000Z
DTEND:20100618T120000Z
UID:TALK24829@talks.cam.ac.uk
CONTACT:Dr Mark Miller
DESCRIPTION:Organized arrays of inorganic nanoparticles show collective el
 ectronic\, optical\, and magnetic properties that originate from the coupl
 ing of size- and shape-dependent properties of individual nanoparticles (N
 Ps). Controllable and predictable assembly of NPs in complex\, hierarchica
 l structures provides a route to the fabrication of new materials and func
 tional devices. Significant progress has been achieved in the bottom-top o
 rganization of NP arrays\, yet\, currently\, this approach remains largely
  empirical.\n\nIn our work\, we proposed two polymer paradigms for the sel
 f-assembly of metal and semiconductor NPs. One of the approaches was used 
 to organize NPs in structures with varying architectures by exploiting a s
 triking analogy between amphiphilic ABA triblock copolymers and polymer-te
 thered inorganic nanorods. The self-assembly process was mapped by phase-l
 ike diagrams.   The process was tunable and reversible\, and it was achiev
 ed solely by changing the solvent quality for the constituent polymer or i
 norganic blocks. In the second approach\, we used the similarity between t
 he self-assembly and step-growth polymerization to describe the kinetics a
 nd statistics of NP assembly. \n\nWe demonstrate the ability to control th
 e optical properties of the self-assembled nanostructures. The proposed st
 rategy provides a new route to the quantitatively predicted organization o
 f nanoparticles in supracolloidal assemblies with new properties.\n\n
LOCATION:Unilever Lecture Theatre\, Department of Chemistry
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