Method to fabricate inhomogeneous particles
AssigneeWilliam Marsh Rice University
InventorsVinit S. Murthy, Michael S. Wong
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Abstract
A method for making inhomogeneous microparticles comprises a) providing an amount of each of at least two polyelectrolytes having a charge, b) providing an amount of a counterion having a valence of at least 2, c) combining the polyelectrolytes and the counterion in a solution such that the polyelectrolyte self-assembles to form inhomogeneous aggregates, and d) adding nanoparticles to the solution such that nanoparticles arrange themselves around the inhomogeneous aggregates to form inhomogeneous particles. The polyelectrolyte may have a positive or negative charge. The charge ratio R of total charge of the counterions to the total charge of the polyelectrolyte may be greater than 1.0.
Claims32
A method for making inhomogeneous particles, comprising:
- a) providing an amount of each of at least two polyelectrolytes;
- b) providing an amount of a counterion having a valence of at least 2, wherein the counterion is selected from the group consisting of polymers, dendrimers, molecular ions, and metal ions;
- c) combining the polyelectrolytes and the counterion in a solution such that the polyelectrolytes self assemble to form inhomogeneous aggregates;
- and
- d) adding nanoparticles to the solution such that nanoparticles arrange themselves around the inhomogeneous aggregates to form inhomogeneous particles.
A method of making inhomogeneous particles by providing at least two positively charged polymers in solution with a counterion selected from the group consisting of polymers, dendrimers, molecular ions, and metal ions and contacting the solution with silica nanoparticles.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.