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Title: Self-Assembly and Crystallization of Hairy (f-Star) and DNA-Grafted Nanocubes

Journal Article · · Journal of the American Chemical Society
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1021/ja406241n· OSTI ID:1134617

Nanoparticle superlattices are key to realizing many of the materials that will solve current technological challenges. Particularly important for their optical, mechanical or catalytic properties are superlattices of anisotropic (nonspherical) nanoparticles. The key challenge is how to program anisotropic nanoparticles to self-assemble into the relevant structures. In this Article, using numerical simulations, we show that “hairy” (f-star) or DNA grafted on nanocubes provides a general framework to direct the self-assembly into phases with crystalline, liquid crystalline, rotator, or noncrystalline phases with both long-range positional and orientational order. We discuss the relevance of these phases for engineering nanomaterials or micromaterials displaying precise orientational order, realization of dry superlattices as well as for the field of programmed self-assembly of anisotropic nanoparticles in general.

Research Organization:
Ames Lab., Ames, IA (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE Office of Science (SC)
DOE Contract Number:
DE-AC02-07CH11358
OSTI ID:
1134617
Report Number(s):
IS-J 8237
Journal Information:
Journal of the American Chemical Society, Vol. 136, Issue 2; ISSN 0002-7863
Publisher:
American Chemical Society (ACS)
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English