Fig. 4: X-shaped nanoparticles form a biphasic system with two unbinding pathways.
From: Self-strengthening biphasic nanoparticle assemblies with intrinsic catch bonds
a Snapshots (i) and (iii) are the LA state and HA state, respectively. Snapshots (ii) and (iv) are the unbound dimers. The black line indicates the transition pathway of the dimer between its LA and HA states. The green line is the LA unbinding pathway and the orange line is the HA unbinding pathway. The reaction coordinates, namely interparticle distance x and intraparticle angle θ, are marked in snapshot (iv). b Energy landscapes for the LA-to-HA-state transition as a function of intraparticle angle θ. The transition energy landscape (black curve) is between the complementary halves of two nanoparticles and is the sum of two switch interactions. ESBS (red curve) shows that in the LA state, SBS has no contribution to the interaction between the particles; however, in the HA state complementary SBSs interact. c Energy landscapes for the LA to HA unbinding as a function of interparticle distance x. The curves follow the same color code as the pathways. HA unbinding has a larger barrier due to ESBS contributions.
