Designing Surface Charge Patterns for Shape Control of Deformable Nanoparticles

Abstract

Designing reconfigurable materials based on deformable nanoparticles (NPs) hinges on an understanding of the energetically-favored shapes these NPs can adopt. Using simulations, we show that hollow, deformable patchy NPs tailored with surface charge patterns such as Janus patches, stripes, and polyhedrally-distributed patches differently adapt their shape in response to changes in patterns and ionic strength, transforming into capsules, hemispheres, variably-dimpled bowls, and polyhedra. The links between anisotropy in NP surface charge, shape, and the elastic energy density are discussed.

9 pages, 8 figures

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