Superfast assembly and synthesis of gold nanostructures using nanosecond low-temperature compression via magnetic pulsed power

Dynamic Nanocrystal Superlattices with Thermally Triggerable Lubricating Ligands

The size-dependent and collective physical properties of nanocrystals (NCs) and their self-assembled superlattices (SLs) enable the study of mesoscale phenomena and the design of metamaterials for a broad range of applications. However, the limited mobility of NC building blocks in dried NCSLs often hampers the potential for employing postdeposition methods to produce high-quality NCSLs. In this study, we present tailored promesogenic ligands that exhibit a lubricating property akin to thermotropic liquid crystals. The lubricating ability of ligands is thermally triggerable, allowing the dry solid NC aggregates deposited on the substrates with poor ordering to be transformed into NCSLs with high crystallinity and preferred orientations. The interplay between the dynamic behavior of NCSLs and the molecular structure of the ligands is elucidated through a comprehensive analysis of their lubricating efficacy using both experimental and simulation approaches. Coarse-grained molecular dynamic modeling suggests that a shielding layer from mesogens prevents the interdigitation of ligand tails, facilitating the sliding between outer shells and consequently enhancing the mobility of NC building blocks. The dynamic organization of NCSLs can also be triggered with high spatial resolution by laser illumination. The principles, kinetics, and utility of lubricating ligands could be generalized to unlock stimuli-responsive metamaterials from NCSLs and contribute to the fabrication of NCSLs.

Theoretical and Experimental Advances in High-Pressure Behaviors of Nanoparticles

Using compressive mechanical forces, such as pressure, to induce crystallographic phase transitions and mesostructural changes while modulating material properties in nanoparticles (NPs) is a unique way to discover new phase behaviors, create novel nanostructures, and study emerging properties that are difficult to achieve under conventional conditions. In recent decades, NPs of a plethora of chemical compositions, sizes, shapes, surface ligands, and self-assembled mesostructures have been studied under pressure by in-situ scattering and/or spectroscopy techniques. As a result, the fundamental knowledge of pressure-structure-property relationships has been significantly improved, leading to a better understanding of the design guidelines for nanomaterial synthesis. In the present review, we discuss experimental progress in NP high-pressure research conducted primarily over roughly the past four years on semiconductor NPs, metal and metal oxide NPs, and perovskite NPs. We focus on the pressure-induced behaviors of NPs at both the atomic- and mesoscales, inorganic NP property changes upon compression, and the structural and property transitions of perovskite NPs under pressure. We further discuss in depth progress on molecular modeling, including simulations of ligand behavior, phase-change chalcogenides, layered transition metal dichalcogenides, boron nitride, and inorganic and hybrid organic-inorganic perovskites NPs. These models now provide both mechanistic explanations of experimental observations and predictive guidelines for future experimental design. We conclude with a summary and our insights on future directions for exploration of nanomaterial phase transition, coupling, growth, and nanoelectronic and photonic properties.

Nanoscale goldbeating: Solid-state transformation of 0D and 1D gold nanoparticles to anisotropic 2D morphologies

Goldbeating is the ancient craft of thinning bulk gold (Au) into gossamer leaves. Pioneered by ancient Egyptian craftsmen, modern mechanized iterations of this technique can fabricate sheets as thin as ∼100 nm. We take inspiration from this millennia-old craft and adapt it to the nanoscale regime, using colloidally synthesized 0D/1D Au nanoparticles (AuNPs) as highly ductile and malleable nanoscopic Au ingots and subjecting them to solid-state, uniaxial compression. The applied stress induces anisotropic morphological transformation of AuNPs into 2D leaf form and elucidates insights into metal nanocrystal deformation at the extreme length scales. The induced 2D morphology is found to be dependent on the precursor 0D/1D NP morphology, size (0D nanosphere diameter and 1D nanorod diameter and length), and their on-substrate arrangement (e.g., interparticle separation and packing order) prior to compression. Overall, this versatile and generalizable solid-state compression technique enables new pathways to synthesize and investigate the anisotropic morphological transformation of arbitrary NPs and their resultant emergent phenomena.

Mechanical Stability and Energy Gap Evolution in Cs-Based Ag, Bi Halide Double Perovskites under High Pressure: A Theoretical DFT Approach

Due to their intrinsic stability and reduced toxicity, lead-free halide double perovskite semiconductors have become potential alternatives to lead-based perovskites. In the present study, we used density functional theory simulations to investigate the mechanical stability and band gap evolution of double perovskites Cs₂AgBiX₆ (X = Cl and Br) under an applied pressure. To investigate the pressure-dependent properties, the hydrostatic pressure induced was in the range of 0-100 GPa. The mechanical behaviors indicated that the materials under study are both ductile and mechanically stable and that the induced pressure enhances the ductility. As a result of the induced pressure, the covalent bonds transformed into metallic bonds with a reduction in bond lengths. Electronic properties, energy bands, and electronic density of states were obtained with the hybrid HSE06 functional, including spin-orbit coupling (HSE06 + SOC) calculations. The electronic structure study revealed that Cs₂AgBiX₆ samples behave as X-Γ indirect gap semiconductors, and the gap reduces with the applied pressure. The pressure-driven samples ultimately transform from the semiconductor to a metallic phase at the given pressure range. Also, the calculations demonstrated that the applied pressure and spin-orbit coupling of the states pushed VBM and CBM toward the Fermi level which caused the evolution of the band gap. The relationship between the structure and band gap demonstrates the potential for designing lead-free inorganic perovskites for optoelectronic applications, including solar cells as well as X-ray detectors.

Treating Multi-Drug-Resistant Bacterial Infections by Functionalized Nano-Bismuth Sulfide through the Synergy of Immunotherapy and Bacteria-Sensitive Phototherapy

Owing to its flexibility and high treatment efficiency, phototherapy is rapidly emerging for treating bacteria-induced diseases, but how to improve the sensitivity of bacteria to reactive oxygen species (ROS) and heat simultaneously to kill bacteria under mild conditions is still a challenge. Herein, we designed a NIR light catalyst (Bi₂S₃-S-nitrosothiol-acetylcholine (BSNA)) by transforming ^•O₂^- into peroxynitrite in situ, which can enhance the bacterial sensibility to ROS and heat and kill bacteria under a mild temperature. The transformed peroxynitrite in situ possessed a stronger ability to penetrate cell membranes and antioxidant capacity. The BSNA nanoparticles (NPs) inhibited the bacterial glucose metabolic process through down-regulated xerC/xerD expression and disrupted the HSP70/HSP90 secondary structure through nitrifying TYR179. Additionally, the synergistic effect of the designed BSNA and clinical antibiotics increased the antibacterial activity. In the case of tetracycline-class antibiotics, BSNA NPs induced phenolic hydroxyl group structure changes and inhibited the interaction between tetracycline and targeted t-RNA recombinant protein. Besides, BSNA stimulated production of more CD8⁺ T cells and reduced common complications in peritonitis, which provided immunotherapy activity. The targeted and anti-infective effect of BSNA suggested that we propose a nanotherapeutic strategy to achieve more efficient synergistic therapy under mild temperatures.

Sub-Nanometer Thick Wafer-Size NiO Films with Room-Temperature Ferromagnetic Behavior

Adding ferromagnetism into semiconductors attracts much attentions due to its potential usage of magnetic spins in novel devices, such as spin field-effect transistors. However, it remains challenging to stabilize their ferromagnetism above room temperature. Here we introduce an atomic chemical-solution strategy to grow wafer-size NiO thin films with controllable thickness down to sub-nanometer scale (0.92 nm) for the first time. Surface lattice defects break the magnetic symmetry of NiO and produce surface ferromagnetic behaviors. Our sub-nanometric NiO thin film exhibits the highest reported room-temperature ferromagnetic behavior with a saturation magnetization of 157 emu/cc and coercivity of 418 Oe. Attributed to wafer size, the easily-transferred NiO thin film is further verified in a magnetoresistance device. Our work provides a sub-nanometric platform to produce wafer-size ferromagnetic NiO thin films as atomic layer magnetic units in future transparent magnetoelectric devices.

Strain sensors fabricated by surface assembly of nanoparticles

Harnessing interparticle spatial properties of surface assembly of nanoparticles (SAN) on flexible substrates is a rapidly emerging front of research in the design and fabrication of highly-sensitive strain sensors. It has recently shown promising potentials for applications in wearable sensors and skin electronics. SANs feature 3D structural tunability of the interparticle spatial properties at both molecular and nanoscale levels, which is transformative for the design of intriguing strain sensors. This review will present a comprehensive overview of the recent research development in exploring SAN-structured strain sensors for wearable applications. It starts from the basic principle governing the strain sensing characteristics of SANs on flexible substrates in terms of thermally-activated interparticle electron tunneling and conductive percolation. This discussion is followed by descriptions of the fabrication of the sensors and the proof-of-concept demonstrations of the strain sensing characteristics. The nanoparticles in the SANs are controllable in terms of size, shape, and composition, whereas the interparticle molecules enable the tunability of the electrical properties in terms of interparticle spatial properties. The design of SAN-derived strain sensors is further highlighted by describing several recent examples in the explorations of their applications in wearable biosensor and bioelectronics. Fundamental understanding of the role of interparticle spatial properties within SANs at both molecular and device levels is the focal point. The future direction of the SAN-derived wearable sensors will also be discussed, shining lights on a potential paradigm shift in materials design in exploring the emerging opportunities in wearable sensors and skin electronics.

Stress-Induced Structural Transformations in Au Nanocrystals

Nanocrystals can exist in multiply twinned structures like icosahedron or single crystalline structures like cuboctahedron. Transformations between these structures can proceed through diffusion or displacive motion. Experimental studies on nanocrystal structural transformations have focused on high-temperature diffusion-mediated processes. Limited experimental evidence of displacive motion exists. We report structural transformation of 6 nm Au nanocrystals under nonhydrostatic pressure of 7.7 GPa in a diamond anvil cell that is driven by displacive motion. X-ray diffraction and transmission electron microscopy were used to detect the structural transformation from multiply twinned to single crystalline. Single crystalline nanocrystals were recovered after unloading, then quickly reverted to the multiply twinned state after dispersion in toluene. The dynamics of recovery was captured using TEM which showed surface recrystallization and rapid twin boundary motion. Molecular dynamics simulations showed that twin boundaries are unstable due to defects nucleated from the interior of the nanocrystal.

Nucleation of Dislocations in 3.9 nm Nanocrystals at High Pressure

As circuitry approaches single nanometer length scales, it has become important to predict the stability of single nanometer-sized metals. The behavior of metals at larger scales can be predicted based on the behavior of dislocations, but it is unclear if dislocations can form and be sustained at single nanometer dimensions. Here, we report the formation of dislocations within individual 3.9 nm Au nanocrystals under nonhydrostatic pressure in a diamond anvil cell. We used a combination of x-ray diffraction, optical absorbance spectroscopy, and molecular dynamics simulation to characterize the defects that are formed, which were found to be surface-nucleated partial dislocations. These results indicate that dislocations are still active at single nanometer length scales and can lead to permanent plasticity.

Gold clay from self-assembly of 2D microscale nanosheets

Nature has always demonstrated incredible ability to create amazing materials such as soft clay which are built from nanoplatelet packing structures. It is challenging to produce artificial clays owing to the difficulty in obtaining large volume fractions of nanoplatelets and the lack of structural control in layer-by-layer packing. Here, single-crystalline Au nanosheets are synthesized by controlled growth in the bilayer membranes of succinic acid surfactants. Then, a self-assembly strategy is used to make {111}-oriented gold nanostructures at the liquid-liquid interface. The stiffness of the nanosheet assemblies are six orders of magnitude softer than bulk gold. The Au nanosheet aggregates show high plasticity and deformable into macroscale free-standing metallic architectures. They show a stress/strain-dependent conductivity owing to morphological changes. Our study provides valuable insights on the chemical synthesis of 2D nanostructures as well as for the self-assembly strategy on fabrication of mouldable metals for producing free-standing metallic architectures with microscale resolutions.

Bandgap engineering in two-dimensional halide perovskite Cs3Sb2I9 nanocrystals under pressure

Halide perovskites have attracted great attention owing to their outstanding performance in optoelectronic applications and solar cells. Recently, two-dimensional (2D) Cs3Sb2I9 nanocrystals (NCs) have attracted sustained interest due to their potentially useful photovoltaic behavior. However, their practical application is impeded by the large bandgap. In this study, the bandgap of 2D Cs3Sb2I9 NCs is successfully narrowed from 2.05 eV to 1.36 eV by means of a high pressure with a measurable rate of 33.7%. Optical changes of 2D Cs3Sb2I9 NCs originate from Sb-I bond contraction and I-Sb-I bond angle changes within the [SbI6]3- octahedra, which determines the overlap of orbitals. Angle dispersive synchrotron X-ray diffraction spectra and Raman spectra of Cs3Sb2I9 NCs indicate that the structural amorphization gradually begins at about 14.0 GPa and the changes are reversible once pressure is completely released. The band gap is slightly smaller after decompression than that under the initial ambient conditions, resulting from the incomplete recrystallization process. First-principles calculations further elucidate that variations in band gaps are mainly governed by the orbital interactions associated with the distortion of the Sb-I octahedral network upon compression. The research enhances the fundamental understanding of 2D Cs3Sb2I9 NCs and is expected to greatly advance the research progress of perovskites in band gap interception at high pressures. Meanwhile, this study demonstrates that pressure processing can be used as a robust strategy to improve materials-by-design in applications.

Pressure-induced structural transition and band gap evolution of double perovskite Cs2AgBiBr6 nanocrystals

Lead-free double halide perovskite nanocrystals (NCs) are attracting increasing attention due to their non-toxic nature and exceptional stability as a substitute material for lead-based perovskites. Herein, we investigate the relationship between the structural and optical properties of double halide perovskite Cs2AgBiBr6 NCs under high pressure. In situ synchrotron high-pressure powder X-ray diffraction and Raman experiments indicated that the structure of Cs2AgBiBr6 NCs transformed into a tetragonal from a cubic system at 2.3 GPa. Pressure-dependent absorption demonstrated that the band gap changes in the sequence red-shift → blue-shift. First-principles calculations further indicated that the band gap evolution was highly related to the orbital interactions, associated with the tilting and distortion of [AgBr6]5- and [BiBr6]3- octahedra under pressure. It is worth noting that the quenched absorption peak of Cs2AgBiBr6 NCs was slightly blue-shifted compared with that of the initial one under ambient conditions, which is in stark contrast to that of the corresponding bulk counterparts. This is because the structure of the sample was not yet recovered and maintained a certain degree of distortion after fully releasing the pressure. What's more, the NCs after decompression are a mixture of cubic and tetragonal phases, which leads to a larger quenched band gap than that of the initial value. Our results improve the understanding of the structural and optical properties of nanostructured double halide perovskites, thus providing a basis for their application in optoelectronic devices.

Directing Gold Nanoparticles into Free-Standing Honeycomb-Like Ordered Mesoporous Superstructures

2D mesoporous materials fabricated via the assembly of nanoparticles (NPs) not only possess the unique properties of nanoscale building blocks but also manifest additional collective properties due to the interactions between NPs. In this work, reported is a facile and designable way to prepare free-standing 2D mesoporous gold (Au) superstructures with a honeycomb-like configuration. During the fabrication process, Au NPs with an average diameter of 5.0 nm are assembled into a superlattice film on a diethylene glycol substrate. Then, a subsequent thermal treatment at 180 °C induces NP attachment, forming the honeycomb-like ordered mesoporous Au superstructures. Each individual NP connects with three neighboring NPs in the adjacent layer to form a tetrahedron-based framework. Mesopores confined in the superstructure have a uniform size of 3.5 nm and are arranged in an ordered hexagonal array. The metallic bonding between Au NPs increases the structural stability of architected superstructures, allowing them to be easily transferred to various substrates. In addition, electron energy-loss spectroscopy experiments and 3D finite-difference time-domain simulations reveal that electric field enhancement occurs at the confined mesopores when the superstructures are excited by light, showing their potential in nano-plasmonic applications.

Oriented Gold Nanorod Arrays: Self-Assembly and Optoelectronic Applications

Self-assembly of anisotropic plasmonic nanomaterials into ordered superstructures has become popular in nanoscience because of their unique anisotropic optical and electronic properties. Gold nanorods (GNRs) are a well-defined functional building block for fabrication of these superstructures. They possess important anisotropic plasmonic characteristics that result from strong local electric field and are responsive to visible and near-IR light. There are recent examples of assembling the GNRs into ordered arrays or superstructures through processes such as solvent evaporation and interfacial assembly. In this Minireview, recent progress in the development of the self-assembled GNR arrays is described, with focus on the formation of oriented GNR arrays on substrates. Key driving forces are discussed, and different strategies and self-assembly processes of forming oriented GNR arrays are presented. The applications of the oriented GNR arrays in optoelectronic devices are also overviewed, especially surface enhanced Raman scattering (SERS).

Pressure Induced Nanoparticle Phase Behavior, Property, and Applications

Nanoparticle (NP) high pressure behavior has been extensively studied over the years. In this review, we summarize recent progress on the studies of pressure induced NP phase behavior, property, and applications. This review starts with a brief overview of high pressure characterization techniques, coupled with synchrotron X-ray scattering, Raman, fluorescence, and absorption. Then, we survey the pressure induced phase transition of NP atomic crystal structure including size dependent phase transition, amorphization, and threshold pressures using several typical NP material systems as examples. Next, we discuss the pressure induced phase transition of NP mesoscale structures including topics on pressure induced interparticle separation distance, NP coupling, and NP coalescence. Pressure induced new properties and applications in different NP systems are highlighted. Finally, outlooks with future directions are discussed.

Hierarchical self-assembly of 3D lattices from polydisperse anisometric colloids

Colloids are mainly divided into two types defined by size. Micron-scale colloids are widely used as model systems to study phase transitions, while nanoparticles have physicochemical properties unique to their size. Here we study a promising yet underexplored third type: anisometric colloids, which integrate micrometer and nanometer dimensions into the same particle. We show that our prototypical system of anisometric silver plates with a high polydispersity assemble, unexpectedly, into an ordered, three-dimensional lattice. Real-time imaging and interaction modeling elucidate the crucial role of anisometry, which directs hierarchical assembly into secondary building blocks-columns-which are sufficiently monodisperse for further ordering. Ionic strength and plate tip morphology control the shape of the columns, and therefore the final lattice structures (hexagonal versus honeycomb). Our joint experiment-modeling study demonstrates potentials of encoding unconventional assembly in anisometric colloids, which can likely introduce properties and phase behaviors inaccessible to micron- or nanometer-scale colloids.

MoS2-OH Bilayer-Mediated Growth of Inch-Sized Monolayer MoS2 on Arbitrary Substrates

Due to remarkable electronic property, optical transparency, and mechanical flexibility, monolayer molybdenum disulfide (MoS₂) has been demonstrated to be promising for electronic and optoelectronic devices. To date, the growth of high-quality and large-scale monolayer MoS₂ has been one of the main challenges for practical applications. Here we present a MoS₂-OH bilayer-mediated method that can fabricate inch-sized monolayer MoS₂ on arbitrary substrates. This approach relies on a layer of hydroxide groups (-OH) that are preferentially attached to the (001) surface of MoS₂ to form a MoS₂-OH bilayer structure for growth of large-area monolayer MoS₂ during the growth process. Specifically, the hydroxide layer impedes vertical growth of MoS₂ layers along the [001] zone axis, promoting the monolayer growth of MoS₂, constrains growth of the MoS₂ monolayer only in the lateral direction into larger area, and effectively reduces sulfur vacancies and defects according to density functional theory calculations. Finally, the hydroxide groups advantageously prevent the MoS₂ from interface oxidation in air, rendering high-quality MoS₂ monolayers with carrier mobility up to ∼30 cm² V^-1 s^-1. Using this approach, inch-sized uniform monolayer MoS₂ has been fabricated on the sapphire and mica and high-quality monolayer MoS₂ of single-crystalline domains exceeding 200 μm has been grown on various substrates including amorphous SiO₂ and quartz and crystalline Si, SiC, Si₃N₄, and graphene This method provides a new opportunity for the monolayer growth of other two-dimensional transition metal dichalcogenides such as WS₂ and MoSe₂.

Orthorhombic distortion in Au nanoparticles induced by high pressure

A shape-dependent orthorhombic lattice distortion is induced in Au nanoparticles below 12 GPa in a DAC.

Ordered mesoporous silver superstructures with SERS hot spots

Ordered mesoporous silver superstructures have been fabricated via the combination of nanoparticle assembly and thermal induced nanoparticle attachment. These superstructures exhibit high-density LSPR “hot spots” at the ordered mesopore sites.

Polymorphic Assembly from Beveled Gold Triangular Nanoprisms

The shape anisotropy of nanoparticle building blocks is of critical importance in determining their packing symmetry and assembly directionality. While there has been extensive research on the effect of their overall geometric shapes, the importance of nanometer morphology details is not well-recognized or understood. Here we draw on shape-anisotropic gold triangular nanoprism building blocks synthesized based on a method we recently developed; besides the "large-scale" triangular prism shape (79.8 nm in side length and 22.0 nm in thickness), the prisms are beveled with their sides convexly enclosed by two flat {100} facets. We engineer the balance between electrostatic repulsion and entropically driven depletion attraction in the system to generate self-assemblies without or with the effect of the nanoscale beveling detail. A conventional, planar honeycomb (p-honeycomb) lattice forms with the triangular basal planes packed on the same plane at low depletion attraction, whereas an unexpected interlocking honeycomb (i-honeycomb) lattice and its "supracrystal" forms are assembled with additional close-paralleling of side facets at high depletion attraction. The i-honeycomb lattice renders all the metallic surfaces in close proximity and leads to a surface-enhanced Raman scattering signal nearly 5-fold higher than that in the p-honeycomb lattice and high sensitivity for detecting the model molecule Rhodamine 6G at a concentration as low as 10^-8 M. Our study can guide future work in both nanoparticle synthesis and self-assembly; nanoscale geometrical features in anisotropic nanoparticles can be used as an important handle to control directional interactions for nonconventional ordered assemblies and to enrich diversity in self-assembly structure and function.