The Kretzschmar and Pine
groups examine directed assembly of nanoparticles and
colloids, respectively, and they are studying the role of
symmetry and molecular recognition on assembly across
multiple length scales. Pine has created a new class of
colloids having "sticky patches" of functional groups
arranged on the particle surface according to a prescribed
symmetry (e.g.; oligonucleotide strands, hydrogen bonding
groups)4
and Kretzschmar synthesizes
nanoparticles with anisotropic surface modification through
the use of convective planar self-assembly. Both approaches
produce particles capable of assembly into networks
according to particle symmetry, not unlike networks known
to form in molecular crystals, studied by Ward.
SESMI students will
learn microemulsion colloid and nanoparticle synthesis, and
surface modification techniques for each class of
particles, as well as the microscopic and rheological
characterization methods applied to these materials. SESMI
students will examine holographic optical trapping in the
Grier group, to guide assembly of these functionalized
objects into welldefined 3-dimensional
arrays
