End-to-end assembly of gold nanorods via oligopeptide linking and surfactant control

Fabrication of heterogeneous bimetallic nanochains through photochemical welding for promoting the electrocatalytic hydrogen evolution reaction

Heterogeneous bimetallic nanochains (NCs) have gained significant attention in the field of catalysis due to their abundant active sites, multi-component synergistic catalytic, and exotic electronic structures. Here, we present a novel approach to synthesize one-dimensional heterogeneous bimetallic nanochains using a local surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) based strategy of liquid-phase photochemical welding method containing self-assembly and subsequent welding processes. Initially, we introduce additives that facilitate the self-assembly and alignment of Au nanoparticles (NPs) into orderly lines. Subsequently, the LSPR effect of the Au NPs is stimulated by light, enabling the second metal precursor to overcome the energy barrier and undergo photodeposition in the gap between the arranged Au NPs, thereby connecting the nano-metal particles. This strategy can be extended to the photochemical welding of Au NPs-Ag and Au NRs. Using electrocatalytic hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) as a proof-of-concept application, the obtained one-dimensional structure of Au5Pt1 NCs exhibit promoted HER performances, where the mass activity of the Au5Pt1 nanochains is found to be 4.8 times higher than that of Au5Pt1 NPs and 10.4 times higher than that of commercial 20 wt% Pt/C catalysts. The promoted HER performance is benefited from the electron conduction ability and abundant active sites.

Protein fibril assisted chiral assembly of gold nanorods

Template mediated assembly of plasmonic nanomaterials is a promising approach to induce chirality. Naturally occurring macromolecules can self-assemble to form chiral superstructures, with dimensions extending from nanometer to micrometer length scales. These structures can serve as templates for host plasmonic nanomaterials on their surface through a variety of interactions. The arrangement of nanomaterials on these structures results in a transfer of symmetry from these templates to nanomaterials, which finally generates a chiral response in circular dichroism (CD) spectroscopy. For biosensing and in vitro applications of chiral plasmonics, long-term stability of these templates will be crucial for this approach of chirality induction. Here, we have demonstrated how protein amyloid fibrils can be used as templates to generate a chiroptical response with plasmonic nanomaterials. The temperature and ionic strength of the solution were carefully altered to convert the three-dimensional protein structure into amyloid fibrils. Changes in solution conditions affected the amyloid geometry, long-term stability, and interaction with AuNRs. The modified interactions influenced the orientation of the AuNRs, which affected the intensity of the CD response. The MTT assay indicated that the chiral AuNRs exhibited considerable cell viability, making them ideal for in vivo applications.

Synthesis of Solution-Stable End-to-End Linked Gold Nanorod Dimers via pH-Dependent Surface Reconfiguration

End-to-end dimers of gold nanorods are predicted to be excellent substrates for surface-enhanced spectroscopy. However, the synthesis of solution-stable end-to-end dimers remains challenging. We exploit the pH-dependent configurational change of polyelectrolytes to initiate and terminate the gold nanorod assembly formation to produce end-to-end linked dimers in high yield. The gold nanorods are first overcoated with a polyelectrolyte, and the end-to-end attachment is initiated by adding a thiol linker in acidic medium. The assembly formation is then terminated at the dimer stage by changing the pH of the medium by the addition of an appropriate amount of 1,4-diazabicyclo[2.2.2]octane (DABCO).The nanorod dimers synthesized here are stable in solution for a week without any additional surface encapsulation.

Hierarchical assembly of gold nanorod stripe patterns for sensing and cells alignment

Hierarchical assemblies of nanomaterial superstructures with controlled orientation affords a multitude of novel properties of plasmonics and broad applications. Yet constructing multi-functional superstructures with nanoparticles positioned in desired locations remains challenging. Herein, gold nanorods (GNRs) assembled in stripe patterns with controlled orientation and structures in millimeter scale for versatile application have been achieved. Applications of patterned GNRs in sensing enhancement and engineering mammalian cells alignment are investigated experimentally. The performance of patterned GNRs in surface enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) and electrical sensing are found in orientational dependence. The SERS signals of vertically arranged GNR arrays exhibit double the folder intensity than those horizontally arranged. In contrast, the horizontally arranged GNRs exhibit twice as much electrical conductivity. The system is further explored to pattern mammalian cells. For the first time, we reveal the nanostructured topography of GNR confined cells to a specific region, and direct the adhesion and extension of living cells, which opens up broad applications in tissue engineering and biosensing.

Directed Assembly of Hybrid Nanomaterials and Nanocomposites

Hybrid nanomaterials are molecular or colloidal-level combinations of organic and inorganic materials, or otherwise strongly dissimilar materials. They are often, though not exclusively, anisotropic in shape. A canonical example is an inorganic nanorod or nanosheet sheathed in, or decorated by, a polymeric or other organic material, where both the inorganic and organic components are important for the properties of the system. Hybrid nanomaterials and nanocomposites have generated strong interest for a broad range of applications due to their functional properties. Generating macroscopic assemblies of hybrid nanomaterials and nanomaterials in nanocomposites with controlled orientation and placement by directed assembly is important for realizing such applications. Here, a survey of critical issues and themes in directed assembly of hybrid nanomaterials and nanocomposites is provided, highlighting recent efforts in this field with particular emphasis on scalable methods.

Sulfate-Mediated End-to-End Assembly of Gold Nanorods

There is interest in the controlled aggregation of gold nanorods (GNRs) for the production of extended nanoassemblies. Prior studies have relied upon chemical modification of the GNR surface to achieve a desired final aggregate structure. Herein we illustrate that control of electrolyte composition can facilitate end-to-end assembly of cetyltrimethylammonium-bromide-coated (CTAB) GNRs. By adjusting either the sulfate anion concentration or the exposure time it is possible to connect GNRs in chain-like assemblies. In contrast, end-to-end assembly was not observed in control experiments using monovalent chloride salts. We attribute the end-to-end assembly to the localized association of sulfate with exposed quaternary ammonium head groups of CTAB at the nanorod tip. To quantify the assembly kinetics, visible-near-infrared extinction spectra were collected over a predetermined time period, and the colloidal behavior of the GNR suspensions was interpreted using plasmon band analysis. Transmission electron microscopy and atomic force microscopy results support the conclusions reached via plasmon band analysis, and the colloidal behavior is consistent with Derjaguin-Landau-Verwey-Overbeek theory.

Direct observation of nanoparticle multiple-ring pattern formation during droplet evaporation with dark-field microscopy

Controllable protocols towards nanoparticle self-assembly are important for applications of functional nanomaterials. Evaporation is a simple yet effective method to realize a gold nanoparticle ordered self-assembly, but until now, little attention has been paid to viewing the corresponding assembly process. Herein, with the help of dark-field microscopy, we in situ monitored the whole dynamic process of gold nanorod (GNR) assembly as the solvent evaporated. Differently from the previous coffee-ring effect, rod-shaped hydrophilic GNRs, within certain concentrations, spontaneously assembled into a multiple-ring pattern on a hydrophobic substrate via droplet drying. The self-assembly mechanism is consistent with a diffusion-driven kinetics, and the influencing factors, including the GNR surface modification, the colloid concentration, the surface property of the substrate, and the shape of the nanoparticles, were systematically investigated.

Orientation-selective alignments of nanoblocks in a and c directions of a tetragonal system through molecularly mediated manipulation

Selective 1D alignments of nanometric Mn₃O₄ cuboids in the a and c directions were achieved on the basis of the hydrophobic–hydrophilic interaction between a single dispersion medium and the specific crystal faces.

Tuning the oriented deposition of gold nanorods on patterned substrates

The controlled patterning of anisotropic gold nanoparticles is of crucial importance for many applications related to their optical properties. In this paper, we report that gold nanorods prepared by a seed-mediated synthesis protocol (without any further functionalization) can be selectively deposited on hydrophilic parts of hydrophobic-hydrophilic contrast patterned substrates. We have seen that, when nanorods with lengths much smaller than the width of the hydrophilic stripe are used, they disperse on these stripes with random orientation and tunable uniform particle separation. However, for nanorods having lengths comparable to the width of the hydrophilic stripes, confinement-induced alignment occurs. We observe that different interactions governing the assembly forces can be modulated by controlling the concentration of assembling nanorods and the width of the hydrophilic stripes, leading to markedly different degrees of alignment. Our strategy can be replicated for other anisotropic nanoparticles to produce well-controlled patterning of these nanoentities on surfaces.

Wet chemical synthesis of soluble gold nanogaps

A central challenge in molecular electronics is to create electrode pairs separated by only a few nanometers that can accommodate a single molecule of interest to be optically or electrically characterized while residing in the gap. Current techniques for nanogap fabrication are largely based on top-down approaches and often rely on subsequent deposition of molecules into the nanogap. In such an approach, the molecule may bridge the gap differently with each experiment due to variations at the metal-molecule interface. Conversely, chemists can readily synthesize gold nanorods (AuNRs) in aqueous solution. Through controlled end-to-end assembly of the AuNRs into dimers or chains, facilitated via target molecules, they can be used as electrical contacts. In this way, the preparation of AuNR-molecule-AuNR junctions by wet chemical methods may afford a large number of identical devices with little variation in the interface between molecule and electrode (AuNR). In this Account, we highlight recent progress in using chemically synthesized AuNRs as building blocks for molecular electronic applications. We outline the general synthesis and properties of AuNRs and describe the aqueous growth of dimeric AuNR structures from an insulating molecule linked to AuNR precursors (gold seeds). Conjugated, electronically active molecules are typically not soluble under the conditions required for the bottom-up growth of AuNRs. Therefore, we present a strategy that utilizes host-guest chemistry in order to make such π-systems compatible with the AuNR growth procedure. In order to electrically characterize the AuNR-molecule-AuNR constructs, we must transfer them onto a substrate and contact external electrodes. We discuss the implications of using electron-beam lithography for making this contact. In addition, we introduce a novel fabrication approach in which we can grow AuNR nanogap electrodes in situ on prepatterned substrates, thus circumventing post-processing steps that potentially damage the nanogap environment. Due to the inherent optical properties of AuNRs, electromagnetic field enhancement in the nanogaps lets us spectroscopically characterize the molecules via surface-enhanced Raman scattering. We discuss the incorporation of oligopeptides functionalized with acetylene units having uniquely identifiable vibrational modes. This acetylene moiety allows chemical reactions to be performed in the gaps via click chemistry, and the oligopeptide linking platform opens for integration of larger biological components.