Toughening colloidal gels using rough building blocks
Abstract Colloidal gels, commonly used as mesoporous intermediates or functional materials, suffer from brittleness, often showing small yield strains on the order of 1% or less for gelled colloidal suspensions. The short-range adhesive forces in most such gels are central forces—combined with the s...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Nature Portfolio
2023-08-01
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| Series: | Nature Communications |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-023-41098-9 |
| _version_ | 1797558146248474624 |
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| author | Florence J. Müller Lucio Isa Jan Vermant |
| author_facet | Florence J. Müller Lucio Isa Jan Vermant |
| author_sort | Florence J. Müller |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Colloidal gels, commonly used as mesoporous intermediates or functional materials, suffer from brittleness, often showing small yield strains on the order of 1% or less for gelled colloidal suspensions. The short-range adhesive forces in most such gels are central forces—combined with the smooth morphology of particles, the resistance to yielding and shear-induced restructuring is limited. In this study, we propose an innovative approach to improve colloidal gels by introducing surface roughness to the particles to change the yield strain, giving rise to non-central interactions. To elucidate the effects of particle roughness on gel properties, we prepared thermoreversible gels made from rough or smooth silica particles using a reliable click-like-chemistry-based surface grafting technique. Rheological and optical characterization revealed that rough particle gels exhibit enhanced toughness and self-healing properties. These remarkable properties can be utilized in various applications, such as xerogel fabrication and high-fidelity extrusion 3D-printing, as we demonstrate in this study. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T17:26:20Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-5c0acbfcb1724268bda2ad441448e3f2 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2041-1723 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T17:26:20Z |
| publishDate | 2023-08-01 |
| publisher | Nature Portfolio |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Nature Communications |
| spelling | doaj.art-5c0acbfcb1724268bda2ad441448e3f22023-11-20T10:09:45ZengNature PortfolioNature Communications2041-17232023-08-011411910.1038/s41467-023-41098-9Toughening colloidal gels using rough building blocksFlorence J. Müller0Lucio Isa1Jan Vermant2Department of MaterialsDepartment of MaterialsDepartment of MaterialsAbstract Colloidal gels, commonly used as mesoporous intermediates or functional materials, suffer from brittleness, often showing small yield strains on the order of 1% or less for gelled colloidal suspensions. The short-range adhesive forces in most such gels are central forces—combined with the smooth morphology of particles, the resistance to yielding and shear-induced restructuring is limited. In this study, we propose an innovative approach to improve colloidal gels by introducing surface roughness to the particles to change the yield strain, giving rise to non-central interactions. To elucidate the effects of particle roughness on gel properties, we prepared thermoreversible gels made from rough or smooth silica particles using a reliable click-like-chemistry-based surface grafting technique. Rheological and optical characterization revealed that rough particle gels exhibit enhanced toughness and self-healing properties. These remarkable properties can be utilized in various applications, such as xerogel fabrication and high-fidelity extrusion 3D-printing, as we demonstrate in this study.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-023-41098-9 |
| spellingShingle | Florence J. Müller Lucio Isa Jan Vermant Toughening colloidal gels using rough building blocks Nature Communications |
| title | Toughening colloidal gels using rough building blocks |
| title_full | Toughening colloidal gels using rough building blocks |
| title_fullStr | Toughening colloidal gels using rough building blocks |
| title_full_unstemmed | Toughening colloidal gels using rough building blocks |
| title_short | Toughening colloidal gels using rough building blocks |
| title_sort | toughening colloidal gels using rough building blocks |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-023-41098-9 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT florencejmuller tougheningcolloidalgelsusingroughbuildingblocks AT lucioisa tougheningcolloidalgelsusingroughbuildingblocks AT janvermant tougheningcolloidalgelsusingroughbuildingblocks |