Novel Self-Assembling Nanocomposite Structures and Methods of Preparing Same
AssigneeThe Regents of the University of Colorado, a body corporate
InventorsWei Zhang, Ryan McCaffrey, Wounjhang Park, Kazunori Emoto, Yinghua Jin
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Abstract
The present invention includes a novel self-assembling nanocomposite structure comprising a shape-persistent three-dimensional cage molecule. In one aspect, binding of nanoparticles to metal coordinating groups in the cage molecule allows for the self-assembly of the nanoparticles into a nanocomposite material. The present invention further includes methods of preparing such self-assembling nanocomposite structures.
Claims20
A composition comprising a shape-persistent three-dimensional cage molecule, wherein the cage molecule comprises two or more metal coordinating groups, whereby binding of nanoparticles to the two or more metal coordinating groups allows for the self-assembly of the nanoparticles into a nanocomposite material.
A method of preparing a self-assembling nanocomposite structure on at least a fraction of the surface of a solid substrate, the method comprising the steps of:
- (a) providing a solid substrate;
- (b) depositing a layer of nanoparticles on at least a fraction of the substrate surface;
- (c) applying sequentially to the at least a fraction of the substrate surface a solution of a shape-persistent three-dimensional cage molecule and a solution of nanoparticles, wherein the cage molecule comprises two or more metal coordinating groups,
- whereby binding of the nanoparticles to the two or more metal coordinating groups allows for the self-assembly of the nanoparticles into a nanocomposite material;
- (d) optionally removing excess solution from the at least a fraction of the substrate surface;
- and,
- (e) repeating steps (c) and (d) until the desired thickness of the self-assembling nanocomposite structure on the substrate surface is obtained.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.