2023-11-24 21:15:33
Nanoparticles, tiny nanometer-scale particles, possess unique properties that make them exceptional tools in a wide range of applications, from medicine to electronics. One of its lesser known aspects is that its surface plays a crucial role in its behavior and functionality.
Research carried out by a team including Vladimir Baulin, distinguished researcher from the Department of Physical and Inorganic Chemistry at the Rovira i Virgili University (URV) in Tarragona, as well as Florian Schulz and Wolfgang Parak, from the University of Hamburg, has revealed how Molecules called ligands can create unique local environments within the surface of the nanoparticle.
The study has shown that the ligands act as a protective layer that provides stability to the nanoparticles and prevents them from agglomerating. But its influence goes beyond stability. According to this research, ligands can also change their surface charge by attracting or repelling ions. This modifies the effective charge of the nanoparticle and, therefore, its properties. This phenomenon is known as “Debye screening.” “This alteration in charge can have a domino effect, influencing other properties that may have been initially overlooked. This local environment can have a significant impact on the behavior of the nanoparticle, altering its interactions with other molecules and affecting its functionality,” explains researcher Vladimir Baulin.
Understanding the role of ligands and their ability to create different local environments is essential in the field of research to understand how they can influence the behavior of nanoparticles in various applications, such as sensing, drug release or catalysis.
Artistic recreation of nanoparticles with their surface in the process of modification. (Illustration: Amazings/NCYT)
In particular, this surface property alteration phenomenon has significant implications for sensing applications. The concentration of the substances being measured can vary markedly near the surface of the nanoparticle compared to the bulk solution. Understanding and exploiting this variation can lead to the development of more accurate and sensitive detection technologies.
Furthermore, the role of ligands can also be exploited in modulating chemical reactions that take place near the surface of the nanoparticle. By precisely engineering ligands, environments can be created that selectively filter molecules, accelerate reactions, or attract specific proteins, even at low concentrations.
These discoveries can have a significant impact in different areas, from health to chemical production and nanotechnology.
The study is titled “Local Environments Created by the Ligand Coating of Nanoparticles and Their Implications for Sensing and Surface Reactions”. And it has been published in the academic journal Accounts of Chemical Research. (Source: URV)
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