Novel class of nanomaterials: Nanostructured
free-floating and
free-standing self-assembled
Nanofilm
(or Nano-sheet)
Nanocomposites
Development of nanomaterials
and nano-scale self-organized systems with new
unique properties and structures is essential for
further progress in modern technologies and other
industrially and socially important fields of
research and engineering.
Here we present a novel class
of functional and polyfunctional nanomaterials:
highly-organized nanofilm nanostructured materials
and planar colloidal nanostructures representing the
free-standing or free-floating self-assembled nano-sheets
composed of nano-components chemically bonded in the
plain of the film.
TECHNOLOGY:
The original technology developed for synthesis of
those materials is based on controlled processes of
self-assembly and self-organization of colloidal
nano-components during the formation of their
complexes with polyfunctional ligands in a bulk
liquid phase in the absence of any surfaces and
interfaces.
Fig.1 TEM images of free floating nanofilm material
Using that technology new organic-inorganic
biocompatible nanocomposite nanofilm material in the
form of magnetic nano-sheets free-floating in an
aqueous media has been fabricated.
The nanofilm material is based
on the complexes of polyamines and colloid magnetite
Fe3O4
nanoparticles (~ 10 nm in
diameter), and the thickness of the material
corresponds to about 2-4 nanoparticle diameters
(20-40 nm). The structural characteristics of that
nano-sheet material are similar to the conventional
office paper list – the thickness/length or width
ratio is about 1:1000 or less.
The technology for fabrication of nanofilm
free-standing material is ecologically-friendly and
allows mass production of the material.
APPLICATIONS:
Nanocomposite magnetic free-floating nano-films can
find their application in systems of controlled
binding, separation, coating, covering, transport
and delivery in
a
liquid media.
Bioactive
and biocompatible magnetic nanocomposite
free-floating nano-films are being designed for
binding, separation, transport and delivery of
drugs,
bioactive compounds, biomolecules
and
biocolloids.
Fig.2 TEM images of polysterol latex microspheres
electrostatically attached to free floating nano-films.
Other area of application makes use of such
properties of developed films such as ability of
coating, modification and functionalization of
various surfaces (surfaces of colloids, fibers,
porous surfaces). That can be of potential interest
for textile industry,
filtration and sepatation technology, medicine,
health-care, cosmetics,
biotechnology and
bioengineering.
Fig.3 TEM images of cotton micro fibres surface modified with
free floating nano-film.
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