Coupled synthesis and self-assembly of nanoparticles to give structures with controlled organization

Li, Mei; Schnablegger, Heimo; Mann, Stephen

doi:10.1038/46509

Cited by 1,380 publications

(808 citation statements)

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“…Recent advances in particle synthesis [4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11] have significantly extended the structural landscape via the development of colloidal particles that are anisotropic both in shape and surface chemistry, thus providing an unlimited number of building blocks that can spontaneously organize into an unprecedented variety of structures with potentially novel functional, mechanical, and optical properties. For this reason, the problem of self-assembly of nanoparticles is today under intense investigation.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Packing of Soft Asymmetric Dumbbells

2010

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We use numerical simulations to study the phase behavior of a system of purely repulsive soft dumbbells as a function of size ratio of the two components and their relative degree of deformability. We find a plethora of different phases which includes most of the mesophases observed in self-assembly of block copolymers, but also crystalline structures formed by asymmetric, hard binary mixtures. Our results detail the phenomenological behavior of these systems when softness is introduced in terms of two different classes of inter-particle interactions: (a) the elastic Hertz potential, that has a finite energy cost for complete overlap of any two components, and (b) a generic power-law repulsion with tunable exponent. We discuss how simple geometric arguments can be used to account for the large structural variety observed in these systems, and detail the similarities and differences in the phase behavior for the two classes of potentials under consideration.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Packing of Soft Asymmetric Dumbbells

2010

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“…2 Although the synthesis of spherical nanocrystals is well developed for many materials, systematic manipulation of the shapes of nanocrystals is a significant challenge. Recent work devoted to making nonspherical nanocrystals via anisotropic inorganic nanocrystal growth in liquid media (including electrochemical growth) has yielded Au rods, 5 BaCrO 4 rods, 6 TiO 2 rods, 7 Ag rods, 8 Pt cubes and pyramids, 9 and rod-, arrow-, teardrop-, and tetrapod-shaped CdSe nanocrystals. 10,11 Fabrication of these materials is useful not only for understanding fundamental phenomena such as quantum confinement but also for obtaining "building blocks" featuring optical and electronic properties that are desirable for advanced applications in photovoltaic solar cells, light-emitting diodes, and biological diagnostics.…”

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confidence: 99%

Synthesis of Silver Nanodisks Using Polystyrene Mesospheres as Templates

et al. 2002

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The remarkable size and shape dependence of physical, optical, and electronic properties of metal and semiconductor nanocrystals make them compelling components of modern materials chemistry. [1][2][3] When spherical metal particles are transformed into nanoscale rods or triangular prisms, the surface plasmon resonances are strongly affected, typically red-shifting and even splitting into distinctive dipole and quadrupole plasmon modes. 4 Colloid chemists have recently made much progress in preparing monodispersed spherical nanocrystals via ambient temperature wet-chemical routes or organometallic methods. 2 Although the synthesis of spherical nanocrystals is well developed for many materials, systematic manipulation of the shapes of nanocrystals is a significant challenge. Recent work devoted to making nonspherical nanocrystals via anisotropic inorganic nanocrystal growth in liquid media (including electrochemical growth) has yielded Au rods, 5 BaCrO 4 rods, 6 TiO 2 rods, 7 Ag rods, 8 Pt cubes and pyramids, 9 and rod-, arrow-, teardrop-, and tetrapod-shaped CdSe nanocrystals. 10,11 Fabrication of these materials is useful not only for understanding fundamental phenomena such as quantum confinement but also for obtaining "building blocks" featuring optical and electronic properties that are desirable for advanced applications in photovoltaic solar cells, light-emitting diodes, and biological diagnostics. 4,12,13 In contrast to nanorods, nanodisks and nanoprisms such as triangles are less well-known. Although a few strategies do exist for synthesizing Co disks, 14 Ag disks, 15 and Ag triangle nanoprisms, 4,16 there is great interest in developing new methods for making nanoparticles with control over shape and size. Herein, we report a new synthesis of disk-shaped Ag nanoparticles using polystyrene spheres as templates.An aqueous colloidal suspension of carboxylate-functionalized polystyrene (PS) spheres was purchased from Interfacial Dynamics Corporation. Fresh Ag solution containing 10 wt % AgNO 3 and 6% ammonium hydroxide was prepared. Briefly, 160 µL of 110-nm diameter PS spheres and 75 µL of Ag solution were added to 60 mL of somewhat aged N,N-dimethylformamide (DMF). Then, the solution was heated with stirring on a hotplate. Within 8-12 min, the solution color changed from yellow through red to purple, after which the temperature was quickly reduced via a cold-water bath. The product was purified by gradient centrifugation and then kept at 4°C.A rich variety of recipes are now available for making Ag nanoparticles in solution. DMF is one of the standard organic compounds used both as solvent and reducing agent. The reduction of Ag + ions in DMF can take place at room temperature, but the reaction rate is markedly increased at higher temperatures. It is also known that DMF slightly decomposes to a more easily oxidized amine upon aging or upon catalytic decomposition with solid base. The availability of the amine evidently accelerates the reduction of silver ions. (We found that dialkylamines are ineffective ...

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“…The advent of new methods for preparing highly soluble and p rocessable colloidal metallic, semiconductor, and magnetic nanocrystals (15)(16)(17)(18)(19)(20) with very tight control over size and shape creates significant new opportunities in the study of inorganic liquid crystals. In this paper we demonstrate that semiconductor colloidal nanorods spontaneously form liquid crystalline phases in concentrated solution, and we discuss the potential implication of these new phases both for the theory of liquid crystal formation and for the practical application of liquid crystals.…”

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confidence: 99%