Hierarchically self-assembled hexagonal honeycomb and kagome superlattices of binary 1D colloids

Sung-Hwan Lim,Theyencheri Narayanan,Taehoon Lee,Sung-Min Choi,Younghoon Oh,Bong June Sung

doi:10.1038/s41467-017-00512-9

Abstract

Synthesis of binary nanoparticle superlattices has attracted attention for a broad spectrum of potential applications. However, this has remained challenging for one-dimensional nanoparticle systems. In this study, we investigate the packing behavior of one-dimensional nanoparticles of different diameters into a hexagonally packed cylindrical micellar system and demonstrate that binary one-dimensional nanoparticle superlattices of two different symmetries can be obtained by tuning particle diameter and mixing ratios. The hexagonal arrays of one-dimensional nanoparticles are embedded in the honeycomb lattices (for AB2 type) or kagome lattices (for AB3 type) of micellar cylinders. The maximization of free volume entropy is considered as the main driving force for the formation of superlattices, which is well supported by our theoretical free energy calculations. Our approach provides a route for fabricating binary one-dimensional nanoparticle superlattices and may be applicable for inorganic one-dimensional nanoparticle systems.

Highlights

Synthesis of binary nanoparticle superlattices has attracted attention for a broad spectrum of potential applications
The fabrication of binary nanoparticle superlattices with different symmetries has been intensively investigated by using an interplay of entropy and van der Waals, electrostatic, and other interactions, and the majority of binary nanoparticle superlattices reported so far have been made with spherical nanoparticles with two different sizes[11,12,13,14,15]
This study shows that the binary 1D nanoparticle superlattices with different symmetries can be formed by controlling the diameter and number ratios between 1D nano-objects of two different diameters

Summary

Introduction

Synthesis of binary nanoparticle superlattices has attracted attention for a broad spectrum of potential applications. The SAXS intensities of p-CnTVB/C12E5/water (10/45/55) with different n show two clear features as the mixtures were cooled down from the isotropic to the hexagonal phase (Fig. 3).

Results

Conclusion