Colloidal Self-Assembly Platform

Introduction

Self-assembly technology is one of the most important colloidal crystal fabrication methods. For example, 2D colloidal crystals are usually assembled using gas-liquid interfaces, while 3D colloidal crystals are usually assembled by sedimentation, dip deposition, and slot filling methods. In order to improve the quality and efficiency of colloidal crystal self-assembly, Alfa Chemistry has built a colloidal self-assembly platform, continuously improved the manufacturing process, and proposed many new technical optimization methods.

Fig.1 Illustration of typical methods used for assembling 2D and 3D colloidal crystals.^[1]

Our Abilities

Alfa Chemistry can choose one or more self-assembly techniques to prepare colloidal crystals according to the specific needs of customers.We are also able to provide optimized development services for self-assembly technologies. Our self-assembly technologies include but are not limited to:

The basic principles of several commonly used self-assembly methods are shown in the following figure:

Fig. 2 (a) Schematic diagram of spin coating method; (b) schematic diagram of convection self-assembly; (c) schematic diagram of gravity subsidence method; (d) LB method schematic diagram.^[2]

In addition to the basic methods mentioned above, we also have self-assembly technologies for the preparation of large-area two-dimensional colloidal crystals, binary colloidal crystals, and colloidal crystals with novel stacking structures.

• Self-assembly of large-area two-dimensional colloidal crystals

Fig. 3 (a) Schematic diagram of heat-treatment-assisted self-assembly; (b)Schematic representation of surfactant-assisted self-assembly; (c) Schematic diagram of template-assisted self-assembly.^[2]

• Self-assembly of binary colloidal crystals
  We can fabricate binary colloidal crystals by embedding particles of other sizes in colloidal crystals based on ethanol-assisted self-assembly at the air/water interface and improved convective self-assembly.
• Self-assembly of colloidal crystals with novel stacking structures
  We can realize many novel packing structures such as tetragonal arrays, smectic and nematic liquid crystals in colloidal crystals through the self-assembly of non-spherical particles.

Our Advantages

References

1. Cong H, et al. Current status and future developments in preparation and application of colloidal crystals. Chemical Society Reviews. 2014, 44(19):7774-7800.
2. Yang S U, et al. Research Progress of Common Self-assembly Methods for Colloidal Crystals. Journal of Synthetic Crystals. 2019.
3. Gao, Weihong, et al. Self-assembly of silica colloidal crystal thin films with tuneable structural colours over a wide visible spectrum. Applied Surface Science. 2016, 380:12-15.

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