Siyu Wan, Yutong Gao, Zhebin Zhang, Fangyue Wu, Ziyue Zheng, Hushui Chen, Xiangyun Xi, Dong Yang, Tongtao Li, Zhihong Nie, Angang Dong
The linear assembly of nanocrystals (NCs) with orientational order presents a significant challenge in the field of colloidal assembly. This study presents an efficient strategy for assembling oleic acid (OAH)-capped, faceted rare earth NCs─such as nanorods, nanoplates, and nanodumbbells─into flexible chain-like superstructures. Remarkably, these NC chains exhibit a high degree of particle orientation even with an interparticle distance reaching up to 15 nm. Central to this oriented assembly method is the facet-selective adsorption of low-molecular-weight polyethylene glycol (PEG), such as PEG-400 ( M n = 400), onto specific facets of NCs...
May 8, 2024: Journal of the American Chemical Society