Charge transport (CT) in films of arylthiol-capped Au nanocrystals (NCs) exhibits strong substituent effects, with electron-donating substituents markedly decreasing conductivity. Films suited for measurements were obtained by ligand-exchange reactions on AuNCs grown at the water/toluene interface. Detailed analysis suggests the NCs interact with the ligands by resonance rather than inductive effects. The films were characterized by TEM, SEM, XPS, UV/vis, and AFM. CT characteristics were studied between 15 and 300 K.

The use of the water-oil interface provides significant advantages in the synthesis of inorganic nanostructures. Employing the water-toluene interface, luminescent CdS nanocrystals have been obtained at a relatively modest temperature of 35• C. The diameters of the particulates can be varied between 1.0 and 5.0 nm. In addition, we have devised a new method for transferring thin films at the water-toluene interface onto solid substrates. Using this method, thin films consisting of Au and Ag nanocrystals spread over very large areas (square centimetres) are obtained in a single step. These films are directly usable as ingredients of functional devices. We show this by constructing a working amine sensor based on films of Au nanocrystals. The materials obtained have been characterized by X-ray diffraction, scanning and transmission electron microscopy, absorption and emission spectroscopy and charge transport measurements.

Simple one pot reactions between thiobiuret complexes [M(SON(CN i Pr 2 ) 2 ) 2 ], (M ¼ Cd, Zn, Pb or Cu) in toluene and aqueous Na 2 S lead to well-defined assemblies of nanocrystals. High quality thin films of CdS, ZnS, CuS and PbS nanoparticulates adhered to the interface are produced and are transferable to glass and other substrates. The effect of reaction parameters on the nature and properties of the deposits are examined. The films are characterized by high-resolution transmission electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, transport property measurements, X-ray photoelectron and absorption spectroscopy. The ability to obtain thin films of several nanocrystalline semiconductors from a single precursor set significantly expands the scope of a reaction scheme that is still in its infancy.

Thin films of Au, Ag and Ag–Au alloy nanocrystals extending to areas of several square centimetres are obtained by deposition at the interface of water and toluene.

HighlightsHighlights include finding ways to trap ''hot'' electrons, 70 identifying the reason for enhanced catalytic activity of hybrid nanostructrures, 86 devising a route to highly crystalline nano-heterostructures incorporating large lattice mismatches.