Macroscopic materials
with nanoscopic properties have recently
been synthesized by self-assembling defined nanoparticles to form
self-supported networks, so-called aerogels. Motivated by the promising
properties of this class of materials, the search for versatile routes
toward the controlled assembly of presynthesized nanoparticles into
such ultralight macroscopic materials has become a great interest.
Overcoating procedures of colloidal nanoparticles with polymers offer
versatile means to produce aerogels from nanoparticles, regardless
of their size, shape, or properties while retaining their original
characteristics. Herein, we report on the surface modification and
assembly of various building blocks: photoluminescent nanorods, magnetic
nanospheres, and plasmonic nanocubes with particle sizes between 5
and 40 nm. The polymer employed for the coating was poly(isobutylene-
alt
-maleic anhydride) modified with 1-dodecylamine side
chains. The amphiphilic character of the polymer facilitates the stability
of the nanocrystals in aqueous media. Hydrogels are prepared via triggering
the colloidally stable solutions, with aqueous cations acting as linkers
between the functional groups of the polymer shell. Upon supercritical
drying, the hydrogels are successfully converted into macroscopic
aerogels with highly porous, open structure. Due to the noninvasive
preparation method, the nanoscopic properties of the building blocks
are retained in the monolithic aerogels, leading to the powerful transfer
of these properties to the macroscale. The open pore system, the universality
of the polymer-coating strategy, and the large accessibility of the
network make these gel structures promising biosensing platforms.
Functionalizing the polymer shell with biomolecules opens up the possibility
to utilize the nanoscopic properties of the building blocks in fluorescent
probing, magnetoresistive sensing, and plasmonic-driven thermal sensing.