Spearheading a new era in complex colloid synthesis with TPM and other silanes

Marlous Kamp, Stefano Sacanna, Roel P.A. Dullens

Research output: Contribution to journalReview articlepeer-review

Abstract

Colloid science has recently grown substantially owing to the innovative use of silane coupling agents (SCAs), especially 3-trimethoxysilylpropyl methacrylate (TPM). SCAs were previously used mainly as modifying agents, but their ability to form droplets and condense onto pre-existing structures has enabled their use as a versatile and powerful tool to create novel anisotropic colloids with increasing complexity. In this Review, we highlight the advances in complex colloid synthesis facilitated by the use of TPM and show how this has driven remarkable new applications. The focus is on TPM as the current state-of-the-art in colloid science, but we also discuss other silanes and their potential to make an impact. We outline the remarkable properties of TPM colloids and their synthesis strategies, and discuss areas of soft matter science that have benefited from TPM and other SCAs. (Figure presented.).

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)433-453
Number of pages21
JournalNature Reviews Chemistry
Volume8
Issue number6
DOIs
StatePublished - Jun 2024

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General Chemistry
  • General Chemical Engineering

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