Sterically stabilized lock and key colloids: A self-consistent field theory study

TL;DR

This study uses self-consistent field theory to analyze how sterically stabilized colloids with cylindrical lock and key shapes interact in polymer solutions, revealing their highly tunable potential for self-assembly.

Contribution

It provides a detailed theoretical analysis of lock and key colloid interactions considering various parameters, advancing understanding of particle self-assembly mechanisms.

Findings

Lock-key potential is highly tunable by system parameters.

Interaction strength depends on chain length, size matching, and grafting density.

Potential for designing customizable self-assembling colloidal systems.

Abstract

A self-consistent field theory study of lock and key type interactions between sterically stabilized colloids in polymer solution is performed. Both the key particle and the lock cavity are assumed to have cylindrical shape, and their surfaces are uniformly grafted with polymer chains. The lock-key potential of mean force is computed for various model parameters, such as length of free and grafted chains, lock and key size matching, free chain volume fraction, grafting density, and various enthalpic interactions present in the system. The lock-key interaction is found to be highly tunable, which is important in the rapidly developing field of particle self-assembly.