Directed Assembly Of Functional Heterostructures

Abstract

The present invention relates to a systematic process for the creation of functionally organized, spatially patterned assemblies polymer-microparticle composites including the AC electric field-mediated assembly of patterned, self supporting organic (polymeric) films and organic (polymeric)-microparticle composite films of tailored composition and morphology; the present invention further relates to the incorporation of said assemblies into other structures. The present invention. also relates to the application of such functional assemblies in materials science and biology. Additional areas of application include sensors, catalysts, membranes, micro-reactors, smart materials. Miniaturized format for generation of multifunctional thin films. Provides a simple set-up to synthesize thin films of tailored composition and morphology:

1 - 81 . (canceled) 
     
     
         82 . A method of producing an organized assembly of particles by transforming a homogeneous fluid mixture or suspension comprising a gellable component and a plurality of particles within a reactor, into one or more heterogeneous assemblies, the method comprising the steps of:
 (a) actively forming a spatial arrangement of a plurality of particles in designated regions of one or more bounding surfaces of a reactor, wherein the active formation is mediated by an external field and sustained in said arrangement after the formation by said field; and   (b) forming a gel, in the presence of the external field, to form a gel-microparticle composite.   
     
     
         83 . The method of  claim 82 , further comprising the step of modifying said particles. 
     
     
         84 . The method of  claim 83 , wherein the modification comprises attachment of biomolecules to said particle surfaces. 
     
     
         85 . The method of  claim 82 , further comprising the step of modifying the gel. 
     
     
         86 . The method of  claim 85 , wherein modifying the gel comprises functionalization of the gel by covalent attachment of biomolecules. 
     
     
         87 . The method of  claim 82 , wherein the particles or the embedding fluid are magnetically polarizable, the external field comprises a magnet field, said field being in a direction substantially normal to one of the reactor bounding surfaces. 
     
     
         88 . The method of  claim 82 , wherein the arrangement is composed of an arrangement of particles within a plane of the bounding surface or in linear strings oriented substantially normal to the bounding surface. 
     
     
         89 . The method of  claim 82 , wherein the active formation step comprises:
 providing a first electrode positioned in a first plane, and a second electrode positioned in a second plane different from the first plane,   providing a polymerization mixture comprising a monomer and an initiator in an electrolyte solution wherein said polymerization mixture is located between the first and the second electrode;   providing a plurality of particles suspended in said solution;   generating an AC electric field with a field distribution at an interface between said first electrode and said electrolyte solution; and   polymerizing the polymerization mixture to form a polymeric film,   wherein the polymerization step results in formation of a polymer-particle composite, said composite comprising the assembly of particles embedded in the polymeric film.   
     
     
         90 . A polymer particle composite comprising an array of particles at a surface of said polymer, wherein said surface is formed by cleaving and removing a layer of polymer thereby exposing said particle containing surface. 
     
     
         91 . A polymer particle composite comprising an array of particles at a surface of said polymer wherein said surface is formed by detaching the polymer particle composite from a substrate to expose said particle containing surface.