Kavli Affiliate: Naomi S. Ginsberg
| First 5 Authors: Jonathan G. Raybin, Ethan J. Dunsworth, Veronica Guo, Naomi S. Ginsberg,
| Summary:
The directed self-assembly of colloidal nanoparticles (NPs) using external
fields guides the formation of sophisticated hierarchical materials but becomes
less effective with decreasing particle size. As an alternative,
electron-beam-driven assembly offers a potential avenue for targeted nanoscale
manipulation, yet remains poorly controlled due to the variety and complexity
of beam interaction mechanisms. Here, we investigate the beam-particle
interaction of silica NPs pinned to the fluid-vacuum interface of ionic liquid
droplets. In these experiments, scanning electron microscopy of the droplet
surface resolves NP trajectories over space and time while simultaneously
driving their reorganization. With this platform, we demonstrate the ability to
direct particle transport and create transient, reversible colloidal patterns
on the droplet surface. By tuning the beam voltage, we achieve precise control
over both the strength and sign of the beam-particle interaction, with low
voltages repelling particles and high voltages attracting them. This response
stems from the formation of well-defined solvent flow fields generated from
trace radiolysis of the ionic liquid, as determined through statistical
analysis of single-particle trajectories under varying solvent composition.
Altogether, electron-beam-guided assembly introduces a versatile strategy for
nanoscale colloidal manipulation, offering new possibilities for the design of
dynamic, reconfigurable systems with applications in adaptive photonics and
catalysis.
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