posted on 2015-05-20, 00:00authored byJoseph Kao, Ting Xu
The phase behavior of supramolecular
nanocomposite thin films was
systematically investigated as a function of nanoparticle (NP) loading
from 1 to >50 wt %. The coassembly of NP and supramolecule can
be
divided into five regimes, from a supramolecule-guided assembly to
a NP governing assembly process, depending on the energetic contributions
from the surface energy, NP-supramolecule interaction, and the kinetic
pathway of the assembly process. A range of morphologies such as 1D
NP chains, 2D sheets, 3D NP assemblies, and NP solids can be readily
obtained, providing opportunities to meet structural control in nanocomposites
for a wide range of applications.