Web Release Date: January 10,
Controlled Self-Assembly of Quantum Dots and Block Copolymers in a Microfluidic Device
and
Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Victoria, P.O. Box 3055, Stn. CSC, Victoria, British Columbia, Canada V8W 3P6, and Department of Chemistry, University of Victoria, P.O. Box 3065, Victoria, British Columbia, Canada V8W 3V6
Received October 23, 2007
In Final Form: December 2, 2007
Abstract:
The controlled self-assembly of polymer-stabilized quantum dots (QDs) into mesoscale aqueous spherical assemblies using microfluidics is described. In a flow-focusing configuration, self-assembly is initiated by the addition of water to a blended solution of polystyrene-coated QDs and amphiphilic polystyrene-block-poly(acrylic acid) stabilizing chains and terminated in a downstream quench step. The on-chip evolution of assemblies is monitored through fluorescence microscopy, and particle size distributions are determined off-chip by transmission electron microscopy. On-chip size control of the assemblies is demonstrated via both the average water concentration in the channel and the flow rate.
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