Journal
NATURE MATERIALS
Volume 14, Issue 9, Pages 912-+Publisher
NATURE PORTFOLIO
DOI: 10.1038/NMAT4321
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Funding
- US Department of Energy, Office of Science, Office of Basic Energy Sciences User Facility [DE-AC02-06CH11357]
- NSF [DMR-1207204, DMR-1420709]
- Chicago MRSEC
- Office of Science of the US Department of Energy [DE-AC02-05CH11231]
- DOE Office of Science User Facility [DE-AC02-06CH11357]
- Direct For Mathematical & Physical Scien
- Division Of Materials Research [1508110] Funding Source: National Science Foundation
- Division Of Materials Research
- Direct For Mathematical & Physical Scien [1207204] Funding Source: National Science Foundation
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Self-assembly of nanoparticles at fluid interfaces has emerged as a simple yet efficient way to create two-dimensional membranes with tunable properties(1-6). In these membranes, inorganic nanoparticles are coated with a shell of organic ligands that interlock as spacers and provide tensile strength. Although curvature due to gradients in lipid-bilayer composition and protein scaffolding(7,8) is a key feature of many biological membranes, creating gradients in nanoparticle membranes has been difficult. Here, we show by X-ray scattering that nanoparticle membranes formed at air/water interfaces exhibit a small but significant similar to 6 angstrom difference in average ligand-shell thickness between their two sides. This affects surface-enhanced Raman scattering and can be used to fold detached free-standing membranes into tubes by exposure to electron beams. Molecular dynamics simulations elucidate the roles of ligand coverage and mobility in producing and maintaining this asymmetry. Understanding this Janus-like membrane asymmetry opens up new avenues for designing nanoparticle superstructures.
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