Fractionation

Sorting of Nanoparticles

In order to use “colloidal molecules” as buildings blocks for novel materials that require particles with specific symmetries or high complexity, it is crucial to have them sorted into uniform species. Sorting can be accomplished by density gradient ultracentrifugation. Rate zonal (density gradient) ultracentrifugation separates particle clusters according to their number of constituents, or more fundamentally by their sedimentation coefficients. The distribution of the individual species within the mixture can be directly accessed by differential centrifugal sedimentation (DCS), which is a high - resolution particle sizing technique that measures the sedimentation time of the particles in a density gradient.

Methods

  • Preparative fractionation: rate zonal density gradient centrifugation
  • Analysis of size distribution: differential centrifugal sedimentation (DCS)

Related Publications

"Direct measurement of sedimentation coefficient distributions in multimodal nanoparticle mixtures"
Plüisch, C.S.; Stuckert, R.; Wittemann, A. Nanomaterials 2021, 11, 1027.
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"Zonal rotor centrifugation revisited: new horizons in sorting nanoparticles"
Plüisch, C.S.; Bössenecker, B.; Dobler, L.; Wittemann, A. RSC Adv. 2019, 9, 27549.
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"Templated Assembly of Polymer Particles into Mesoscopic Clusters with well-defined Configurations.”
Wagner, C.S.; Fischer, B.; May, M.; Wittemann, A. Colloid Polym. Sci. 2010, 288, 487.
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"Preparation of Submicrometer-Sized Clusters from Polymer Spheres Using Ultrasonication”
Wagner, C.S.; Lu, Y.; Wittemann, A. Langmuir 2008, 24, 12126.
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Project Funding

We gratefully acknowledge financial support from the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) within SFB 1214/A10.