Abstract
We present a preparation method for hollow silica nanocubes with tuneable size and shape in the range required for light scattering studies. Cuprous oxide nanocubes are prepared by a water-assisted polyol method. By adjusting the water content, the size of the nanocubes can be tuned in the range of 40–120 nm. These cubes function as a shape template in the subsequent coating with Stöber silica, resulting in core-shell nanocubes. Dissolving the core with nitric acid results in hollow silica nanocubes with sizes ranging from 80–120 nm and cubicity shape parameters between 3 and 6.5.
Highlights
At the atomic scale, particle assembly is mainly driven by electron orbital configurations, whereas at the colloidal scale, particle shape is a dominant factor for structures that form by self-assembly [1]
Cuprous oxide nanoparticles can be obtained reproducible with sizes in the range of 40 to 120 nm
These particles are highly cubic with m values up to 12, which is significantly above the maximum (m = 4) for micron sized heamatite cubes reported earlier
Summary
Particle assembly is mainly driven by electron orbital configurations, whereas at the colloidal scale, particle shape is a dominant factor for structures that form by self-assembly [1]. Theoretical work and simulations on concentrated dispersions predict a solid cubic phase and a solid distorted cubic Λ1 phase, depending on the shape parameter of superballs [6,7]. These phases have been observed for micron sized haematite superballs that assemble by external forces such as depletion and gravity [3,4]. The synthesis of these haematite cubes yields cubic particles with a size ranging between 0.5–1.5 μm. Smaller particles synthesized via this route lose their cubic shape [8]
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