Understanding and tailoring ligand interactions in the self-assembly of branched colloidal nanocrystals into planar superlattices

Andrea Castelli, Joost de Graaf (), Sergio Marras, Rosaria Brescia, Luca Goldoni, Liberato Manna and Milena P. Arciniegas ()
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Andrea Castelli: Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia
Joost de Graaf: The University of Edinburgh
Sergio Marras: Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia
Rosaria Brescia: Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia
Luca Goldoni: Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia
Liberato Manna: Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia
Milena P. Arciniegas: Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia

Nature Communications, 2018, vol. 9, issue 1, 1-9

Abstract: Abstract Colloidal nanocrystals can self-assemble into highly ordered superlattices. Recent studies have focused on changing their morphology by tuning the nanocrystal interactions via ligand-based surface modification for simple particle shapes. Here we demonstrate that this principle is transferable to and even enriched in the case of a class of branched nanocrystals made of a CdSe core and eight CdS pods, so-called octapods. Through careful experimental analysis, we show that the octapods have a heterogeneous ligand distribution, resembling a cone wrapping the individual pods. This induces location-specific interactions that, combined with variation of the pod aspect ratio and ligands, lead to a wide range of planar superlattices assembled at an air–liquid interface. We capture these findings using a simple simulation model, which reveals the necessity of including ligand-based interactions to achieve these superlattices. Our work evidences the sensitivity that ligands offer for the self-assembly of branched nanocrystals, thus opening new routes for metamaterial creation.

Date: 2018
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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-018-03550-z

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