Affiliation:
1. Department of Chemical Engineering Texas Tech University Lubbock TX 79409 USA
2. Artie McFerrin Department of Chemical Engineering Texas A&M University College Station TX 77843 USA
3. Department of Materials Science & Engineering Texas A&M University 3003 TAMU College Station TX 77843 USA
4. School of Materials Science and Engineering Tianjin University Tianjin 300350 China
5. College of Chemical and Biological Engineering Zhejiang University Hangzhou 310058 China
Abstract
AbstractPolymer elastomers with reversible shape‐changing capability have led to significant development of artificial muscles, functional devices, and soft robots. By contrast, reversible shape transformation of inorganic nanoparticles is notoriously challenging due to their relatively rigid lattice structure. Here, the authors demonstrate the synthesis of shape‐changing nanoparticles via an asymmetrical surface functionalization process. Various ligands are investigated, revealing the essential role of steric hindrance from the functional groups. By controlling the unbalanced structural hindrance on the surface, the as‐prepared clay nanoparticles can transform their shape in a fast, facile, and reversible manner. In addition, such flexible morphology‐controlled mechanism provides a platform for developing self‐propelled shape‐shifting nanocollectors. Owing to the ion‐exchanging capability of clay, these self‐propelled nanoswimmers (NS) are able to autonomously adsorb rare earth elements with ultralow concentration, indicating the feasibility of using naturally occurring materials for self‐powered nanomachine.
Subject
Biomaterials,Biotechnology,General Materials Science,General Chemistry