In situ microscopy of the self-assembly of branched nanocrystals in solution

Eli Sutter (), Peter Sutter, Alexei V. Tkachenko, Roman Krahne, Joost de Graaf, Milena Arciniegas and Liberato Manna ()
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Eli Sutter: University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Peter Sutter: University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Alexei V. Tkachenko: Center for Functional Nanomaterials, Brookhaven National Laboratory
Roman Krahne: Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia (IIT)
Joost de Graaf: Faculty 8: Mathematics and Physics, Institute for Computational Physics (ICP), University of Stuttgart
Milena Arciniegas: Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia (IIT)
Liberato Manna: Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia (IIT)

Nature Communications, 2016, vol. 7, issue 1, 1-7

Abstract: Abstract Solution-phase self-assembly of nanocrystals into mesoscale structures is a promising strategy for constructing functional materials from nanoscale components. Liquid environments are key to self-assembly since they allow suspended nanocrystals to diffuse and interact freely, but they also complicate experiments. Real-time observations with single-particle resolution could have transformative impact on our understanding of nanocrystal self-assembly. Here we use real-time in situ imaging by liquid-cell electron microscopy to elucidate the nucleation and growth mechanism and properties of linear chains of octapod-shaped nanocrystals in their native solution environment. Statistical mechanics modelling based on these observations and using the measured chain-length distribution clarifies the relative importance of dipolar and entropic forces in the assembly process and gives direct access to the interparticle interaction. Our results suggest that monomer-resolved in situ imaging combined with modelling can provide unprecedented quantitative insight into the microscopic processes and interactions that govern nanocrystal self-assembly in solution.

Date: 2016
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DOI: 10.1038/ncomms11213

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