Colloidal Organosilica Spheres for Three-Dimensional Confocal Microscopy

Yanyan Liu, Taiki Yanagishima, Arran Curran, Kazem V. Edmond, Stefano Sacanna, Roel P.A. Dullens

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

We describe the synthesis and application of 3-(trimethoxysilyl)propyl methacrylate (TPM) particles as a colloidal model system for three-dimensional (3D) confocal scanning laser microscopy. The effect of the initial TPM concentration on the growth and polydispersity of the particles and a recently developed solvent transfer method to disperse particles in a refractive index and density-matching solvent mixture are reviewed and discussed. To fully characterize the system as a colloidal model, we measure the pair potential between the TPM particles directly using optical tweezers. Finally, we use 3D confocal microscopy to image a sedimentation-diffusion equilibrium of TPM particles to characterize the phase behavior and particle dynamics through successful detection and tracking of all particles in the field of view.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)7962-7969
Number of pages8
JournalLangmuir
Volume35
Issue number24
DOIs
StatePublished - Jun 18 2019

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General Materials Science
  • Condensed Matter Physics
  • Surfaces and Interfaces
  • Spectroscopy
  • Electrochemistry

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