Space- and time-resolved small angle X-ray scattering to probe assembly of silver nanocrystal superlattices

Yixuan Yu, Dian Yu, Babak Sadigh and Christine A. Orme ()
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Yixuan Yu: Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory
Dian Yu: University of California, Los Angeles
Babak Sadigh: Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory
Christine A. Orme: Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory

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

Abstract: Abstract The structure of nanocrystal superlattices has been extensively studied and well documented, however, their assembly process is poorly understood. In this work, we demonstrate an in situ space- and time-resolved small angle X-ray scattering measurement that we use to probe the assembly of silver nanocrystal superlattices driven by electric fields. The electric field creates a nanocrystal flux to the surface, providing a systematic means to vary the nanocrystal concentration near the electrode and thereby to initiate nucleation and growth of superlattices in several minutes. Using this approach, we measure the space- and time-resolved concentration and polydispersity gradients during deposition and show how they affect the superlattice constant and degree of order. We find that the field induces a size-selection effect that can reduce the polydispersity near the substrate by 21% leading to better quality crystals and resulting in field strength-dependent superlattice lattice constants.

Date: 2018
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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-018-06734-9

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