Interplay between Short‐ and Long‐Ranged Forces Leading to the Formation of Ag Nanoparticle Superlattice
[1]
- Physical and Computational Sciences Directorate Pacific Northwest National Laboratory Richland WA 99352 USA
- Physical and Computational Sciences Directorate Pacific Northwest National Laboratory Richland WA 99352 USA, School of Science North University of China Taiyuan 030051 P. R. China
- NCEM Molecular Foundry Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory Berkeley CA 94720 USA
- Physical and Computational Sciences Directorate Pacific Northwest National Laboratory Richland WA 99352 USA, Benjamin Levich Institute CUNY City College of New York New York NY 10031 USA
Abstract Nanoparticle (NP) superlattices have attracted increasing attention due to their unique physicochemical properties. However, key questions persist regarding the correlation between short‐ and long‐range driving forces for nanoparticle assembly and resultant capability to predict the transient and final superlattice structure. Here the self‐assembly of Ag NPs in aqueous solutions is investigated by employing in situ liquid cell transmission electron microscopy, combined with atomic force microscopy‐based force measurements, and theoretical calculations. Despite the NPs exhibiting instantaneous Brownian motion, it is found that the dynamic behavior of NPs is correlated with the van der Waals force, sometimes unexpectedly over relatively large particle separations. After the NPs assemble into clusters, a delicate balance between the hydration and van der Waals forces results in a distinct distribution of particle separation, which is ascribed to layers of hydrated ions adsorbed on the NP surface. The study demonstrates pivotal roles of the complicated correlation between interparticle forces; potentially enabling the control of particle separation, which is critical for tailoring the properties of NP superlattices.
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE
- Grant/Contract Number:
- DE‐AC02‐05CH11231
- OSTI ID:
- 1528655
- Journal Information:
- Small, Journal Name: Small Vol. 15 Journal Issue: 33; ISSN 1613-6810
- Publisher:
- Wiley Blackwell (John Wiley & Sons)Copyright Statement
- Country of Publication:
- Germany
- Language:
- English
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