Centrifugation theory revisited: Understanding and modelling the centrifugation of 2D nanosheets

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Auteurs principaux: Goldie, Stuart, Ott, Steffan, Dawson, Anthony, Starke, Tamara, Gabbett, Cian, Vega, Victor, Synnatschke, Kevin, Horn, Marilia, Coleman, Jonathan N., Backes, Claudia
Format: Preprint
Publié: 2025
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author Goldie, Stuart
Ott, Steffan
Dawson, Anthony
Starke, Tamara
Gabbett, Cian
Vega, Victor
Synnatschke, Kevin
Horn, Marilia
Coleman, Jonathan N.
Backes, Claudia
author_facet Goldie, Stuart
Ott, Steffan
Dawson, Anthony
Starke, Tamara
Gabbett, Cian
Vega, Victor
Synnatschke, Kevin
Horn, Marilia
Coleman, Jonathan N.
Backes, Claudia
contents Size selection of liquid-dispersed 2D nanomaterials is a prerequisite for size-dependent studies in earlier stage research and for their targeted application in commercial settings. Centrifugation is the most widespread method for reliably sorting suspensions of polydisperse 2D nanosheets according to size. However, whilst centrifugation is effective, no a priori models are available to predict the outcome of centrifugation, making time consuming iterative experiments necessary. Here we present a simple model for the behaviour of 2D nanosheets during centrifugation and benchmark its predictions against experiments. This model uses simple expressions, specific to 2D particles, for the hydrodynamic radius, effective density and viscous resistance to generate the equation of motion of individual nanosheet during centrifugation. Critically, the equation of motion is then used to predict nanosheet size distributions within centrifugation products. This in turn leads to equations for easily measurable properties such as mean and maximum nanosheet sizes obtained during centrifugation-based fractionation. Comparison with experimental data demonstrates the robustness of this model for a range of 2D materials and solvent systems, and its ability to describe quite subtle effects. These results will enable more tailored size selection of nanosheets for specific applications and offer new mechanistic insights to optimise exfoliation conditions.
format Preprint
id arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2503_05111
institution arXiv
publishDate 2025
record_format arxiv
spellingShingle Centrifugation theory revisited: Understanding and modelling the centrifugation of 2D nanosheets
Goldie, Stuart
Ott, Steffan
Dawson, Anthony
Starke, Tamara
Gabbett, Cian
Vega, Victor
Synnatschke, Kevin
Horn, Marilia
Coleman, Jonathan N.
Backes, Claudia
Mesoscale and Nanoscale Physics
Materials Science
Size selection of liquid-dispersed 2D nanomaterials is a prerequisite for size-dependent studies in earlier stage research and for their targeted application in commercial settings. Centrifugation is the most widespread method for reliably sorting suspensions of polydisperse 2D nanosheets according to size. However, whilst centrifugation is effective, no a priori models are available to predict the outcome of centrifugation, making time consuming iterative experiments necessary. Here we present a simple model for the behaviour of 2D nanosheets during centrifugation and benchmark its predictions against experiments. This model uses simple expressions, specific to 2D particles, for the hydrodynamic radius, effective density and viscous resistance to generate the equation of motion of individual nanosheet during centrifugation. Critically, the equation of motion is then used to predict nanosheet size distributions within centrifugation products. This in turn leads to equations for easily measurable properties such as mean and maximum nanosheet sizes obtained during centrifugation-based fractionation. Comparison with experimental data demonstrates the robustness of this model for a range of 2D materials and solvent systems, and its ability to describe quite subtle effects. These results will enable more tailored size selection of nanosheets for specific applications and offer new mechanistic insights to optimise exfoliation conditions.
title Centrifugation theory revisited: Understanding and modelling the centrifugation of 2D nanosheets
topic Mesoscale and Nanoscale Physics
Materials Science
url https://arxiv.org/abs/2503.05111