Janus particles offer new physics, new technology

In Roman mythology, Janus was the god of change and transition, often portrayed with two faces gazing in opposite directions. At the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Janus particles are providing insight into the movement of molecules, and serving as the basis for new materials and sensors."By modifying the surface of colloidal particles into a Janus chemical compound, we can measure the rotational dynamics of single colloidal particles in suspension as well as at interfaces," said Steve Granick, a professor of materials science and engineering, chemistry and physics. "We can also take advantage of the particles' two very dissimilar sides to create families of microsensors."

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