Thermophoresis and thermal orientation of Janus nanoparticles in thermal fields
File(s)
Supporting information
Author(s)
Bresme, Fernando
Olarte-Plata, Juan D
Chapman, Aidan
Albella, Pablo
Green, Calum
Type
Journal Article
Abstract
Thermal fields provide a route to control the motion of nanoparticles and molecules and potentially modify the behaviour of soft matter systems. Janus nanoparticles have emerged as versatile building blocks for the self-assembly of materials with novel properties. Here we investigate using non-equilibrium molecular dynamics simulations the behaviour of coarse-grained models of Janus nanoparticles under thermal fields. We examine the role of the heterogeneous structure of the particle on the Soret coefficient and thermal orientation by studying particles with different internal structures, mass distribution, and particle–solvent interactions. We also examine the thermophoretic response with temperature, targeting liquid and supercritical states and near-critical conditions. We find evidence for a significant enhancement of the Soret coefficient near the critical point, leading to the complete alignment of a Janus particle in the thermal field. This behaviour can be modelled and rationalized using a theory that describes the thermal orientation with the nanoparticle Soret coefficient, the mass and interaction anisotropy of the Janus nanoparticle, and the thermal field’s strength. Our simulations show that the mass anisotropy plays a crucial role in driving the thermal orientation of the Janus nanoparticles.
Date Issued
2022-07-01
Date Acceptance
2022-06-20
Citation
The European Physical Journal E: soft Matter and Biological Physics, 2022, 45 (7)
ISSN
1292-8941
Publisher
Springer
Journal / Book Title
The European Physical Journal E: soft Matter and Biological Physics
Volume
45
Issue
7
Copyright Statement
© The Author(s) 2022
License URL
Sponsor
The Leverhulme Trust
Identifier
http://gateway.webofknowledge.com/gateway/Gateway.cgi?GWVersion=2&SrcApp=PARTNER_APP&SrcAuth=LinksAMR&KeyUT=WOS:000822489800001&DestLinkType=FullRecord&DestApp=ALL_WOS&UsrCustomerID=1ba7043ffcc86c417c072aa74d649202
Grant Number
RPG-2018-384
Subjects
Science & Technology
Physical Sciences
Technology
Chemistry, Physical
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Physics, Applied
Polymer Science
Chemistry
Materials Science
Physics
DIFFUSION
SIMULATIONS
BEHAVIOR
WATER
Publication Status
Published
Article Number
ARTN 59