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Toughening colloidal gels using rough building blocks

Author

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  • Florence J. Müller

    (Department of Materials)

  • Lucio Isa

    (Department of Materials)

  • Jan Vermant

    (Department of Materials)

Abstract

Colloidal gels, commonly used as mesoporous intermediates or functional materials, suffer from brittleness, often showing small yield strains on the order of 1% or less for gelled colloidal suspensions. The short-range adhesive forces in most such gels are central forces—combined with the smooth morphology of particles, the resistance to yielding and shear-induced restructuring is limited. In this study, we propose an innovative approach to improve colloidal gels by introducing surface roughness to the particles to change the yield strain, giving rise to non-central interactions. To elucidate the effects of particle roughness on gel properties, we prepared thermoreversible gels made from rough or smooth silica particles using a reliable click-like-chemistry-based surface grafting technique. Rheological and optical characterization revealed that rough particle gels exhibit enhanced toughness and self-healing properties. These remarkable properties can be utilized in various applications, such as xerogel fabrication and high-fidelity extrusion 3D-printing, as we demonstrate in this study.

Suggested Citation

  • Florence J. Müller & Lucio Isa & Jan Vermant, 2023. "Toughening colloidal gels using rough building blocks," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-9, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:14:y:2023:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-023-41098-9
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-41098-9
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Chiao-Peng Hsu & Joydeb Mandal & Shivaprakash N. Ramakrishna & Nicholas D. Spencer & Lucio Isa, 2021. "Exploring the roles of roughness, friction and adhesion in discontinuous shear thickening by means of thermo-responsive particles," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 12(1), pages 1-10, December.
    2. Kathryn A. Whitaker & Zsigmond Varga & Lilian C. Hsiao & Michael J. Solomon & James W. Swan & Eric M. Furst, 2019. "Colloidal gel elasticity arises from the packing of locally glassy clusters," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 10(1), pages 1-8, December.
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