Silver Nanoparticles with Controlled Dispersity and Their Assembly into Superstructures

Abstract

In this paper we report on the influence of particle size distribution, particle substrate interaction, and drying behavior on the self-assembly process using ligand stabilized silver particles. Two-dimensional particle arrays were characterized using transmission electron microscopy and extensive image analysis. The formation of such structures was observed in situ using an environmental scanning electron microscope in WET-STEM mode. The results confirm that a small particle size distribution is crucial for the formation of regular particle patterns with long range order, but also the particle substrate interaction and the particle density have an influence on the degree of ordering. Additionally, we find that separated binary particle assemblies keep the orientation of their two-dimensional hexagonal lattices over alternating domains of small and big particles. This is probably enabled due to the formation of dislocations and a small change of the course of the lattice lines within the respective boundary.