Colloidal crystal wires from directed assembly

• Colloidal crystal wires with tubular-like packings are prepared by the directed assembly of spheres into cylindrical one-dimensional channels. Silica spheres are infiltrated into porous silicon membranes, treated with silane, and annealed. Single annealing cycles are found to result in colloidal crystal wires with varied packing geometries, while repeated annealing produces a thin translucent silica sheath around the wires. Packing in the wires varies with the relative channel diameter of the silicon membrane where typical wires contain 4 to 7 helical strands. Both chiral and achiral packing geometries are observed. The fabrication of these wires is discussed and the relationship between channel size and packing structure detailed.

Subject headings

TEKNIK OCH TEKNOLOGIER  -- Materialteknik (hsv//swe)

ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY  -- Materials Engineering (hsv//eng)

Keyword

Annealing

Colloids

Crystals

Membranes

Porous silicon

Colloidal crystal wires

Tubular-like packings

Wire

Publication and Content Type

ref (subject category)

kon (subject category)