Assembly of Latex Particles by Using Emulsion Droplets as Templates. 1. Microstructured Hollow Spheres

TLDR: In this article, an emulsion-based technique for the assembly of colloid particles into microstructured or multicomponent clusters (supraparticles) is described, where the particles are gathered, assembled, and fixed together in the restricted, colloid-size 2D or 3D space provided by emulsion droplets.

Abstract: We describe an emulsion-based technique that allows the assembly of colloid particles into microstructured or multicomponent clusters (“supraparticles”). The particles are gathered, assembled, and fixed together in the restricted, colloid-size 2D or 3D space provided by emulsion droplets. The process is carried out by multiple modification of the colloid interactions within the particle/droplet system“interaction-tailored colloid assembly”. In the first paper of the series we provide a general description of the method. Then we present the data on the assembly of negatively charged (sulfate) or positively charged (amidine) latexes into ordered hollow spherical supraparticles. The following steps are included in the assembly schemes:  (1) modification of latex surface charge and properties, so the microspheres are able to adsorb on the droplet surfaces but without homocoagulation; (2) adsorption and structure formation around the emulsion drops (at this stage the interfacial mobility of the particles is of...