Kinetics of Nonequilibrium Nanocrystal Monolayer Formation: Deposition from Liquid Carbon Dioxide

Abstract

We observe the time-dependent structural reorganization of monolayers of gold nanocrystals deposited from liquid carbon dioxide. Compressed carbon dioxide does not exhibit dewetting instabilities, allowing deposition of spatially continuous monolayers at fast evaporation rates. Comparison of the translational and orientational correlation functions and a translational order parameter with a computer simulated equilibrium state indicates that the nanocrystal organization kinetics are slower than single particle diffusion limited assembly and are likely dominated by ensemble reorganization.