Mutual Transformation between Random Nanoparticles and Their Superlattices: The Configuration of Capping Ligand Chains

Abstract

We presented a facile and efficient route to prepare single-component nanoparticle (NP) superlattices. It was demonstrated that mutual transformation between random NPs and their well-ordered superlattices could be unified by a proposed model of ligand configuration. When the ligand chains capped on NPs were disordered at room temperature, NPs existed separately in solution, which were noninteracting and thus showed random states on transmission electron microscopy (TEM) grids; comparatively, the ligand chains capped on NPs in an ordered state in solution would correspond to superlattice structures obtained on TEM grids. These experimental observations were consistent with our theoretical analysis.