Colloidal Superparticles from Self-Assembly of Nanoparticles

超粒子是胶体粒子形式的纳米粒子组装体。 它们表现出从它们的纳米颗粒成分继承的物理和化学性质以及从耦合效应诱导的这些成分的集体性质。 在NSF固体与材料化学计划的支持下，Cao教授和他的研究小组的目标是：（1）开发胶体超颗粒的尺寸控制合成，（2）探索控制胶体超颗粒的组分填充和表面形态的原理，以及（3）研究二元纳米颗粒组分形成胶体超颗粒。 该项目的目标是开发合成方法，使单分散的胶体超颗粒可能用于下一代工业的新制造技术。研究工作与教育活动相结合，培训研究生和本科生在多学科纳米科学和纳米技术研究领域。 该项目还包括推广活动，以促进高中学生对科学的兴趣。

Superparticles are nanoparticle assemblies in the form of colloidal particles. They exhibit physical and chemical properties inherited from their nanoparticle constituents as well as the collective properties of these constituents induced from coupling effects. Under the support of the Solid State and Materials Chemistry Program at NSF, Prof. Cao and his research group aim to: (1) develop size-controlled synthesis of colloidal superparticles, (2) explore the principles that govern the constituent-packing and surface morphology of colloidal superparticles, and (3) investigate the formation of colloidal superparticles from binary nanoparticle constituents. The goal of this project is to develop synthetic methodology for making monodispersed colloidal superparticles potentially useful for new manufacturing technology for next generation industries. The research effort is integrated with educational activities for training graduate and undergraduate students in multidisciplinary nanoscience and nanotechnology research areas. This project also includes outreach activities to promote the interests of high school students in science.