Affine Deformation and Self-Assembly Alignment in Hydrogel Nanocomposites.

ABSTRACT: Tailoring the order in hierarchical structures is a key goal of bioinspired nanocomposite design. Recently, nacre-like materials have been developed by solvent evaporation methods that are scalable and attain advanced functionalities. However, understanding the alignment mechanisms of 2D fillers, nanosheets, or platelets remains challenging. This work explores possible pathways for nanocomposite ordering via orientation distribution functions. We demonstrate how the immobilization of 2D materials via (pseudo)network formation is crucial to alignment based on evaporation. We show a modified affine deformation model that describes such evaporative methods. In this, a gel network develops enough yield stress and uniformly deforms as drying proceeds, along with the immobilized particles, causi

SUBMITTER: Espindola SP 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10720479 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature