Abstract
The alignment of nanostructures in materials such as lyotropic liquid crystal (LLC) templated materials has the potential to significantly improve their performances. However, accurately characterising and quantifying the alignment of such fine structures remains very challenging. In situ small angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) and molecular dynamics were employed for the first time to understand the hexagonal LLC alignment process with magnetic nanoparticles under a magnetic field. The enhanced alignment has been illustrated from the distribution of azimuthal intensity in the samples exposed to magnetic field. Molecular dynamics simulations reveal the relationship between the imposed force of the magnetic nanoparticles under magnetic field and the force transferred to the LLC cylinders which leads to the LLC alignment. The combinational study with experimental measurement and computational simulation will enable the development and control of nanostructures in novel materials for various applications.
Highlights
The alignment of nanostructures is of increasing research interest and importance to applications as ordered nanostructures will provide unprecedented benefits in tissue engineering [1,2], drug delivery [3,4], gas permeation [5], and water purification [6,7]
Dodecyltrimethylammonium anan anionic surfactant dispersed in water, was used
Dodecyltrimethylammoniumbromide bromide(DTAB), (DTAB), anionic surfactant dispersed in water, was to form the hexagonal hydrophilic monomer, polyethylene glycol diacrylate used to form the hexagonal lyotropic liquid crystal (LLC) structures [30]
Summary
The alignment of nanostructures is of increasing research interest and importance to applications as ordered nanostructures will provide unprecedented benefits in tissue engineering [1,2], drug delivery [3,4], gas permeation [5], and water purification [6,7]. Lyotropic liquid crystals (LLCs) can self-assemble and form unique continuous hexagonal nanostructures that can be used as templates to synthesize organic [8,9] and inorganic [8,10] nanomaterials of distinctive properties. This process is a promising route for the fabrication of large quantities of low cost nano-structured and ultra-thin materials, the lack of long-range order in the template structure prevents the formation of highly anisotropic hexagonal structures. It is critical to develop new strategies to produce stable, high density, and uniformly oriented cylindrical
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