Ask an Expert: Overcoming entropy at the nanoscale

Carbon nanorings offer a lot of potential across a number of applications – including electronics, advanced sensors, and even drug delivery. But synthesizing these complex, energetically less favorable ring-shaped nanostructures has presented a significant hurdle in nanotechnology. (And nanoparticles can behave in interesting ways even when you aren’t trying to shape them into rings!) However, some exciting recent advancements hint that a new chapter is beginning, offering promising prospects for both research and practical applications.

Building the tiniest nanostructures

The actual process of crafting well-defined ring-shaped nanostructures has consistently posed considerable challenges. Working at the nanoscale has inherent difficulties, as precision and control are paramount. Particles this small are more prone to unwanted interactions and influences, and you’re also fighting against entropy – which can increase the energy needs of the entire experiment.

Into this developing landscape comes Lu Hou, a researcher pursuing her doctorate at Dalian University of Technology, China. Her research interests focus on the controllable synthesis and application of anisotropic carbon materials, and the project she has been working on involves the selective synthesis of carbon nanorings via asymmetric intramicellar phase-transition induced tip-to-tip assembly.

This innovative methodology depends on hydrophobicity differences on the intermediate’s surface, which triggers directional interactions that surpass the entropy cost of undesired connections. This results in a ‘self-assembling’ nanostructure with controllable kinetics – a very clever approach that could also be applied to other useful shapes, including crescent-, pod-, and garland-type formations.

Reimagining the future of materials

The amazing potential of tunable nanostructures is becoming increasingly attainable, thanks in part to research like that of Lu Hou and her colleagues. Fully integrated nanotechnology has the potential to address many complex challenges in our world, including advanced coatings, nanocomposite materials, or more efficient forms of energy storage – a rapidly evolving industry that is already playing a fundamental role in shaping a more sustainable future.

As more research is completed and innovative methods like these are further developed, there will almost certainly be exciting applications that redefine how our materials work for us – beyond what we can even imagine today!

Join our upcoming Ask an Expert webinar on October 19

Take a deeper dive into this fascinating tiny world at our upcoming Ask an Expert webinar, guest-hosted by Lu Hou on October 19 at 09:00 CEST. It’s a great opportunity to gain her insights, explore the details of her work – and of course, ask your questions! Register here.

To make sure your questions get answered, send them to askanexpert@malvernpanalytical.com ahead of time. Alternatively, ask a question on the day.

Explore our full calendar of webinars and other events here.