Manipulating and monitoring nanoparticles in micellar thin film superstructures.

ABSTRACT: Understanding the dynamics of discrete self-assembled structures under influence of external triggers is of interest to harvest the potential of nano- and mesoscale materials. In particular, controlling the hierarchical organization of (macro)molecular and nanoparticle building blocks in monolayer superstructures is of paramount importance for tuning properties and characteristics. Here we show how the electron beam in cryo-transmission electron microscopy can be exploited to induce and follow local migration of building blocks and global migration of micellar aggregates inside micrometer-sized superstructures. We employ stroboscopic exposure to heat up and convert the vitrified superstructure into a liquid-like thin film under cryogenic conditions, resulting in controlled evaporation of w

SUBMITTER: Ten Hove JB 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6283865 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature