Issue 16, 2020

Shape-directed self-assembly of nanodumbbells into superstructure polymorphs

Abstract

Self-assembly of colloidal nanoparticles into ordered superstructures provides a promising route to create novel/enhanced functional materials. Much progress has been made in self-assembly of anisotropic nanoparticles, but the complexity and tunability of superstructures remain restricted by their available geometries. Here we report the controlled packing of nanodumbbells (NDs) with two spherical lobes connected by one rod-like middle bar into varied superstructure polymorphs. When assembled into two-dimensional (2D) monolayer assemblies, such NDs with specific shape parameters could form orientationally ordered degenerate crystals with a 6-fold symmetry, in which these NDs possess no translational order but three allowed orientations with a rotational symmetry of 120 degrees. Detailed analyses identify the distinct roles of subunits in the ND assembly: the spherical lobes direct NDs to closely assemble together into a hexagonal pattern, and the rod-like connection between the lobes endows NDs with this specific orientational order. Such intralayer assembly features are well maintained in the two-layer superstructures of NDs; however, the interlayer stackings could be adjusted to produce stable bilayer superstructures and a series of metastable moiré patterns. Moreover, in addition to horizontal alignment, these NDs could gradually stand up to form tilted or even vertical packing based on the delicate control over the liquid–liquid interface and ND dimensions. This study provides novel insights into creating superstructures by controlling geometric features of nanoscale building blocks and may spur their novel applications.

Graphical abstract: Shape-directed self-assembly of nanodumbbells into superstructure polymorphs

Supplementary files

Article information

Article type
Edge Article
Submitted
31 Jan 2020
Accepted
27 Mar 2020
First published
27 Mar 2020
This article is Open Access

All publication charges for this article have been paid for by the Royal Society of Chemistry
Creative Commons BY license

Chem. Sci., 2020,11, 4065-4073

Shape-directed self-assembly of nanodumbbells into superstructure polymorphs

Y. Liu, K. Deng, J. Yang, X. Wu, X. Fan, M. Tang and Z. Quan, Chem. Sci., 2020, 11, 4065 DOI: 10.1039/D0SC00592D

This article is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported Licence. You can use material from this article in other publications without requesting further permissions from the RSC, provided that the correct acknowledgement is given.

Read more about how to correctly acknowledge RSC content.

Social activity

Spotlight

Advertisements