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Kołodziej G, Szostak S, Tomczyk E, Wójcik M. Tuneable Plasmonic Resonances Of A Dynamic Thin Film Of Ultrasmall Nanocrystals Modified In the Anti-Galvanic Reduction Process. Chemistry 2023; 29:e202301843. [PMID: 37642228 DOI: 10.1002/chem.202301843] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2023] [Revised: 08/27/2023] [Accepted: 08/27/2023] [Indexed: 08/31/2023]
Abstract
Ultrasmall gold nanoparticles (NPs) have revolutionized nanotechnology as they are an excellent starting substrate for the synthesis of organic-inorganic hybrid materials with photonic or energy conversion applications, often with a responsive nature. However, ultrasmall NPs do not sustain plasmonic resonances, preventing their use in plasmon-related applications. In the presented work, we show a method of chemical modification of ultrasmall gold nanoparticles in order to fabricate dynamically controlled plasmonic thin films. For this purpose, we used the Anti-Galvanic Reduction process (AGR) to modify the surface of small gold nanoparticles, inducing plasmonic properties without notable size increases. Au@Ag NPs are then modified with liquid crystal-like organic ligands. The obtained NPs can assemble into densely packed films with long-range order and temperature-dependent structural properties. Namely, we detect two, fully reversible phase transitions between the hexagonal and cubic symmetries. The combination of AGR and organic surface modifications enabled us to demonstrate the possibility of managing plasmonic properties in the thin film of ~2 nm diameter metallic NPs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Grzegorz Kołodziej
- Faculty of Chemistry, University of Warsaw, Pasteura 1, 02-093, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Szymon Szostak
- Faculty of Chemistry, University of Warsaw, Pasteura 1, 02-093, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Ewelina Tomczyk
- Faculty of Chemistry, University of Warsaw, Pasteura 1, 02-093, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Michał Wójcik
- Faculty of Chemistry, University of Warsaw, Pasteura 1, 02-093, Warsaw, Poland
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2
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Zhao YY, Li Y, Cao Y, Mehl GH, Liu F, Ungar G. The Effect of Mesogenic Coronas on the Type and Anisotropy of Gold Nanoparticle Superlattices: When Can the Tail Wag the Dog? Chemistry 2023; 29:e202203673. [PMID: 36573704 DOI: 10.1002/chem.202203673] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2022] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
The correlation between the size of nanoparticles, the structure and shape of mesogenic ligands and the ensuing assembly behaviour is not really understood. Closer inspection shows very surprising features. Here, 2- and 4-nm gold nanoparticles (NPs) were synthesized, and grafted with a forked ligand containing two rod-like mesogens in its branches: one cholesterol, the other with azobenzene. The 4-nm NPs also contained n-hexylthiol as co-ligand. They were found to form a FCC cubic superlattice, whereas the 2-nm NPs form hexagonal HCP with weak birefringence, hence with partially oriented ligands. The structures were compared with those of related systems containing a range of different azobenzene-to-cholesterol ratios, all giving body-centred tetragonal superlattices with various degrees of anisotropy. Geometric analysis is presented in terms of the asphericity of the NPs' surroundings, requirement for space-filling and structural anisotropy. Some general rules are derived to help design the soft corona around the NPs in order to obtain superlattices with the desired structure and anisotropy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yang-Yang Zhao
- Shaanxi International Research Center for Soft Matter, State Key Laboratory for Mechanical Behaviour of Materials, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi An Shi, Xi'an, 710049, P. R. China
| | - Yaxin Li
- School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Henan University of Technology, Zhengzhou, 450001, P. R. China
| | - Yu Cao
- Shaanxi International Research Center for Soft Matter, State Key Laboratory for Mechanical Behaviour of Materials, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi An Shi, Xi'an, 710049, P. R. China
| | - Georg H Mehl
- Shaanxi International Research Center for Soft Matter, State Key Laboratory for Mechanical Behaviour of Materials, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi An Shi, Xi'an, 710049, P. R. China.,Department of Chemistry, University of Hull, Hull, HU6 7RX, UK
| | - Feng Liu
- Shaanxi International Research Center for Soft Matter, State Key Laboratory for Mechanical Behaviour of Materials, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi An Shi, Xi'an, 710049, P. R. China
| | - Goran Ungar
- Shaanxi International Research Center for Soft Matter, State Key Laboratory for Mechanical Behaviour of Materials, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi An Shi, Xi'an, 710049, P. R. China.,Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, S1 3JD, UK
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3
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Jeridi H, Niyonzima JDD, Sakr C, Missaoui A, Shahini S, Vlad A, Coati A, Goubet N, Royer S, Vickridge I, Goldmann M, Constantin D, Garreau Y, Babonneau D, Croset B, Gallas B, Lhuillier E, Lacaze E. Unique orientation of 1D and 2D nanoparticle assemblies confined in smectic topological defects. SOFT MATTER 2022; 18:4792-4802. [PMID: 35708225 DOI: 10.1039/d2sm00376g] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
New collective optical properties have emerged recently from organized and oriented arrays of closely packed semiconducting and metallic nanoparticles (NPs). However, it is still challenging to obtain NP assemblies which are similar everywhere on a given sample and, most importantly, share a unique common orientation that would guarantee a unique behavior everywhere on the sample. In this context, by combining optical microscopy, fluorescence microscopy and synchrotron-based grazing incidence X-ray scattering (GISAXS) of assemblies of gold nanospheres and of fluorescent nanorods, we study the interactions between NPs and liquid crystal smectic topological defects that can ultimately lead to unique NP orientations. We demonstrate that arrays of one-dimensional - 1D (dislocations) and two-dimensional - 2D (grain boundaries) topological defects oriented along one single direction confine and organize NPs in closely packed networks but also orient both single nanorods and NP networks along the same direction. Through the comparison between smectic films associated with different kinds of topological defects, we highlight that the coupling between the NP ligands and the smectic layers below the grain boundaries may be necessary to allow for fixed NP orientation. This is in contrast with 1D defects, where the induced orientation of the NPs is intrinsically induced by the confinement independently of the ligand nature. We thus succeeded in achieving the fixed polarization of assemblies of single photon emitters in defects. For gold nanospheres confined in grain boundaries, a strict orientation of hexagonal networks has been obtained with the 〈10〉 direction strictly parallel to the defects. With such closely packed and oriented NPs, new collective properties are now foreseen.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haifa Jeridi
- Sorbonne Université, CNRS, Institut des Nano-Sciences de Paris (INSP), F-75005 Paris, France.
- OMNES Education Research Center, ECE Paris, 37 Quai de Grenelle, 75015 Paris, France
| | - Jean de Dieu Niyonzima
- Sorbonne Université, CNRS, Institut des Nano-Sciences de Paris (INSP), F-75005 Paris, France.
- Physics department, School of Science, College of Science and Technology, University of Rwanda, Po. Box: 3900, Kigali, Rwanda
| | - Charbel Sakr
- Sorbonne Université, CNRS, Institut des Nano-Sciences de Paris (INSP), F-75005 Paris, France.
- European Synchrotron Radiation Facility (ESRF), Grenoble, France
| | - Amine Missaoui
- Sorbonne Université, CNRS, Institut des Nano-Sciences de Paris (INSP), F-75005 Paris, France.
| | - Sharif Shahini
- Sorbonne Université, CNRS, Institut des Nano-Sciences de Paris (INSP), F-75005 Paris, France.
- Department of Physics and Materials Science, University of Luxembourg, 162a, Avenue de la Faencerie, L-1511, Luxembourg
| | - Alina Vlad
- Synchrotron SOLEIL, BP 48, L'Orme des Merisiers, 91192 Gif sur Yvette Cedex, France
| | - Alessandro Coati
- Synchrotron SOLEIL, BP 48, L'Orme des Merisiers, 91192 Gif sur Yvette Cedex, France
| | - Nicolas Goubet
- CNRS, Sorbonne Université, Laboratoire de la Molécule aux Nano-objets; Réactivité, Interactions et Spectroscopies MONARIS, 4 Pl Jussieu, Case Co, F-75005 Paris, France
| | - Sébastien Royer
- Sorbonne Université, CNRS, Institut des Nano-Sciences de Paris (INSP), F-75005 Paris, France.
| | - Ian Vickridge
- Sorbonne Université, CNRS, Institut des Nano-Sciences de Paris (INSP), F-75005 Paris, France.
| | - Michel Goldmann
- Sorbonne Université, CNRS, Institut des Nano-Sciences de Paris (INSP), F-75005 Paris, France.
- Synchrotron SOLEIL, BP 48, L'Orme des Merisiers, 91192 Gif sur Yvette Cedex, France
| | - Doru Constantin
- Université de Strasbourg, Institut Charles Sadron, CNRS UPR022, 67034 Strasbourg Cedex, France
| | - Yves Garreau
- Synchrotron SOLEIL, BP 48, L'Orme des Merisiers, 91192 Gif sur Yvette Cedex, France
- Université Paris Cité, Laboratoire Matériaux et Phénomènes Quantiques, CNRS, F-75013 Paris, France
| | - David Babonneau
- Departement Physique et Mecanique des Materiaux, Institut P', UPR 3346 CNRS, Université de Poitiers SP2MI, TSA 41123, 86073 Poitiers cedex 9, France
| | - Bernard Croset
- Sorbonne Université, CNRS, Institut des Nano-Sciences de Paris (INSP), F-75005 Paris, France.
| | - Bruno Gallas
- Sorbonne Université, CNRS, Institut des Nano-Sciences de Paris (INSP), F-75005 Paris, France.
| | - Emmanuel Lhuillier
- Sorbonne Université, CNRS, Institut des Nano-Sciences de Paris (INSP), F-75005 Paris, France.
| | - Emmanuelle Lacaze
- Sorbonne Université, CNRS, Institut des Nano-Sciences de Paris (INSP), F-75005 Paris, France.
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4
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Zhao YY, Cao Y, Siligardi G, Mehl GH, Liu F, Ungar G. Self-assembly of gold nanoparticles into an adjustable plasmonic 3D lattice using Janus-type forked mesogenic ligands. Chem Asian J 2022; 17:e202200057. [PMID: 35192226 DOI: 10.1002/asia.202200057] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2022] [Revised: 02/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
We report the formation of a 3D body-centred self-assembled superlattice of gold nanoparticles whose interparticle gap, and hence its plasmonic properties, are adjustable exclusively in the xy -plane. Thus, even though the particles are spherical, their anisotropic packing generates tailorable plasmonic dichroism. The gold nanoparticles are coated with forked ligands containing two mesogens: either two cholesterols ("twin"), one cholesterol and one azobenzene ("Janus"), or a mixture of the two. Beside the body-centered arrangement of gold nanoparticles, the structure also contains unusual two-dimensionally modulated smectic-like layers of mesogens in an egg-box geometry. Moreover, the presence of azobenzene mesogens allows the superlattice to be melted through UV-induced photo-isomerization; the process is reversible displaying low fatigue on repeated cycling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yang-Yang Zhao
- Xi'an Jiaotong University, Department of Chemistry, School of Science, West Xianning Road, 710049, Xi'an, CHINA
| | - Yu Cao
- Xi'an Jiaotong University, Department of Chemistry, School of Science, CHINA
| | | | - Georg H Mehl
- University of Hull, Department of Chemistry, UNITED KINGDOM
| | - Feng Liu
- Xi'an Jiaotong University, Department of Chemistry, School of Science, CHINA
| | - Goran Ungar
- University of Sheffield, Materials Science and Engineering, Sir Robert Hadfield Building, Mappin Street, S1 3JD, Sheffield, UNITED KINGDOM
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5
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Parzyszek S, Pociecha D, Wolska JM, Lewandowski W. Thermomechanically controlled fluorescence anisotropy in thin films of InP/ZnS quantum dots. NANOSCALE ADVANCES 2021; 3:5387-5392. [PMID: 36132630 PMCID: PMC9418115 DOI: 10.1039/d1na00290b] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2021] [Accepted: 08/05/2021] [Indexed: 06/03/2023]
Abstract
Macroscopic scale sources of polarized light play a fundamental role in designing light-emitting devices. In this communication we report the formation of nano- and macro-scale ordered, layered assemblies of InP/ZnS quantum dots (QDs) exhibiting fluorescence anisotropy (FA), as well as thermo- and mechano-responsive properties. The long-range organization of small, quasi-isotropic nanoparticles was achieved by introducing liquid crystal molecules to the surface of QDs, without the need to use an organic matrix. Melting/crystallization of the ligand at 95 deg. C translated to a reversible reconfiguration of QDs thin film between 2D layered and body-centered cubic structures, characteristic for a temperature range below and above the melting point, respectively. The low-temperature, layered structure exhibited mechano-responsiveness which was key to introduce and control the sample alignment. Interestingly, transverse and parallel alignment modes of QDs layers were achieved, depending on the temperature of mechanical shearing. As prepared QD samples exhibited fluorescence anisotropy strongly correlated to the macroscopic orientation of the layers. Correlated small-angle X-ray diffraction (SAXRD) and fluorescence spectroscopy studies confirmed the mm-scale alignment of the thin films of QDs. Such films may be advantageous for developing efficient, densely packed, and uniform macro-scale FA sources.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sylwia Parzyszek
- Faculty of Chemistry, University of Warsaw Pasteura 1 st. 02-093 Warsaw Poland
| | - Damian Pociecha
- Faculty of Chemistry, University of Warsaw Pasteura 1 st. 02-093 Warsaw Poland
| | - Joanna Maria Wolska
- Faculty of Chemistry, University of Warsaw Pasteura 1 st. 02-093 Warsaw Poland
| | - Wiktor Lewandowski
- Faculty of Chemistry, University of Warsaw Pasteura 1 st. 02-093 Warsaw Poland
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6
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Szustakiewicz P, Kowalska N, Bagiński M, Lewandowski W. Active Plasmonics with Responsive, Binary Assemblies of Gold Nanorods and Nanospheres. NANOMATERIALS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2021; 11:2296. [PMID: 34578613 PMCID: PMC8465109 DOI: 10.3390/nano11092296] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/16/2021] [Revised: 08/22/2021] [Accepted: 08/29/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Self-assembly of metal nanoparticles has applications in the fabrication of optically active materials. Here, we introduce a facile strategy for the fabrication of films of binary nanoparticle assemblies. Dynamic control over the configuration of gold nanorods and nanospheres is achieved via the melting of bound and unbound fractions of liquid-crystal-like nanoparticle ligands. This approach provides a route for the preparation of hierarchical nanoparticle superstructures with applications in reversibly switchable, visible-range plasmonic technologies.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Wiktor Lewandowski
- Faculty of Chemistry, University of Warsaw, 1 Pasteura St., 02-093 Warsaw, Poland; (P.S.); (N.K.); (M.B.)
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7
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Liu J, Huang J, Niu W, Tan C, Zhang H. Unconventional-Phase Crystalline Materials Constructed from Multiscale Building Blocks. Chem Rev 2021; 121:5830-5888. [PMID: 33797882 DOI: 10.1021/acs.chemrev.0c01047] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Crystal phase, an intrinsic characteristic of crystalline materials, is one of the key parameters to determine their physicochemical properties. Recently, great progress has been made in the synthesis of nanomaterials with unconventional phases that are different from their thermodynamically stable bulk counterparts via various synthetic methods. A nanocrystalline material can also be viewed as an assembly of atoms with long-range order. When larger entities, such as nanoclusters, nanoparticles, and microparticles, are used as building blocks, supercrystalline materials with rich phases are obtained, some of which even have no analogues in the atomic and molecular crystals. The unconventional phases of nanocrystalline and supercrystalline materials endow them with distinctive properties as compared to their conventional counterparts. This Review highlights the state-of-the-art progress of nanocrystalline and supercrystalline materials with unconventional phases constructed from multiscale building blocks, including atoms, nanoclusters, spherical and anisotropic nanoparticles, and microparticles. Emerging strategies for engineering their crystal phases are introduced, with highlights on the governing parameters that are essential for the formation of unconventional phases. Phase-dependent properties and applications of nanocrystalline and supercrystalline materials are summarized. Finally, major challenges and opportunities in future research directions are proposed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiawei Liu
- Center for Programmable Materials, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Nanyang Technological University, 50 Nanyang Avenue, Singapore 639798, Singapore
| | - Jingtao Huang
- Center for Programmable Materials, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Nanyang Technological University, 50 Nanyang Avenue, Singapore 639798, Singapore
| | - Wenxin Niu
- State Key Laboratory of Electroanalytical Chemistry, Changchun Institute of Applied Chemistry, Chinese Academy Sciences, Changchun, Jilin 130022, P.R. China
| | - Chaoliang Tan
- Department of Electrical Engineering, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Hua Zhang
- Department of Chemistry, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China.,Hong Kong Branch of National Precious Metals Material Engineering Research Center (NPMM), City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
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8
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Bhardwaj A, Sridurai V, Bhat SA, Yelamaggad CV, Nair GG. Photo-tunable epsilon-near-zero behavior in a self-assembled liquid crystal - nanoparticle hybrid material. NANOSCALE ADVANCES 2021; 3:2508-2515. [PMID: 36134163 PMCID: PMC9416799 DOI: 10.1039/d0na01039a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2020] [Accepted: 03/10/2021] [Indexed: 05/27/2023]
Abstract
Dynamic tuning of electromagnetic response is an important parameter to realize exotic applications of optical metamaterials. Self-assembly achieved via the incorporation of soft materials is an attractive approach to achieve tunable optical properties. Among the soft materials, liquid crystals are highly sought after due to the inherent soft-stimuli responsiveness. This article reports experimental evidence of tunable epsilon-near-zero (ENZ) behavior brought about by an optical field in a self-assembled liquid crystal - nanoparticle system. The material consists of Au nanoparticles capped with a photo-active chiral liquid crystal ligand. In the liquid crystalline state, the system self-assembles into a helical lamellar superstructure, confirmed by polarizing optical microscopy, HRTEM, XRD, and circular dichroism studies. Upon irradiation with UV light, the localized surface plasmon resonance peak of Au red-shifts by ∼10 nm and gets restored with white light illumination. The effective permittivity of the system obtained from ellipsometry indicates ENZ behavior in the visible spectrum with a bandwidth of ∼45 nm which gets enhanced by a factor of 1.6 on UV illumination. Theoretical calculations, carried out using the effective medium approach, support the experimental findings, making the system an efficient ENZ metamaterial in the optical regime.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amit Bhardwaj
- Centre for Nano and Soft Matter Sciences Bengaluru-560013 India
- Manipal Academy of Higher Education Manipal Karnataka 576104 India
| | - Vimala Sridurai
- Centre for Nano and Soft Matter Sciences Bengaluru-560013 India
| | - Sachin A Bhat
- Centre for Nano and Soft Matter Sciences Bengaluru-560013 India
| | | | - Geetha G Nair
- Centre for Nano and Soft Matter Sciences Bengaluru-560013 India
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9
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Bhat SA, Rao DSS, Prasad SK, Yelamaggad CV. Chiral plasmonic liquid crystal gold nanoparticles: self-assembly into a circular dichroism responsive helical lamellar superstructure. NANOSCALE ADVANCES 2021; 3:2269-2279. [PMID: 36133755 PMCID: PMC9419753 DOI: 10.1039/d0na01070g] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/24/2020] [Accepted: 02/19/2021] [Indexed: 05/09/2023]
Abstract
Owing to their proven and promising potential in various technological endeavors ranging from catalysis and sensing to invisibility cloaks made from metamaterials, chiral plasmonic superstructures resulting from the directed self-assembly of optically active metal nanoparticles (MNPs) have been pursued intensively in recent years. Several strategic efforts have emerged especially to accomplish advanced nanomaterials assembling into liquid crystalline (LC) helical structures, where MNPs are regularly packed in fluid/frozen arrays/layers or wires (columns). While the helical fluid columnar arrays (molecular wires) showing circular dichroism (CD) have been realized, the discovery of fluid chiral lamellar ordering, where the dielectric and conducting regimes are arranged alternatively, has hitherto remained highly elusive. Herein we report the first examples of monodisperse LC-gold NPs (LC-GNPs) self-assembling into a fluid/frozen lamellar structure exhibiting CD activity. Notably, these new, exceptional LC-GNPs have been realized by simple, hassle-free protocols that involve the room temperature addition of LC dimer-like arylamines to Au(iii), where the amines not only reduce Au(iii) to Au(0) but also bind strongly to the central GNP scaffold. Their molecular structure, mesomorphism, and ability to interact with circularly polarized light have been evidenced unambiguously and could play an important role in realizing metamaterials in the visible region.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sachin A Bhat
- Centre for Nano and Soft Matter Sciences (CeNS) P. B. No. 1329, Prof. U. R. Rao Road, Jalahalli Bengaluru 560012 India
- Department of Chemistry, Mangalore University Mangalagangotri 574 199 India
| | - D S Shankar Rao
- Centre for Nano and Soft Matter Sciences (CeNS) P. B. No. 1329, Prof. U. R. Rao Road, Jalahalli Bengaluru 560012 India
| | - S Krishna Prasad
- Centre for Nano and Soft Matter Sciences (CeNS) P. B. No. 1329, Prof. U. R. Rao Road, Jalahalli Bengaluru 560012 India
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10
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Bagiński M, Pedrazo-Tardajos A, Altantzis T, Tupikowska M, Vetter A, Tomczyk E, Suryadharma RN, Pawlak M, Andruszkiewicz A, Górecka E, Pociecha D, Rockstuhl C, Bals S, Lewandowski W. Understanding and Controlling the Crystallization Process in Reconfigurable Plasmonic Superlattices. ACS NANO 2021; 15:4916-4926. [PMID: 33621046 PMCID: PMC8028333 DOI: 10.1021/acsnano.0c09746] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/04/2023]
Abstract
The crystallization of nanomaterials is a primary source of solid-state, photonic structures. Thus, a detailed understanding of this process is of paramount importance for the successful application of photonic nanomaterials in emerging optoelectronic technologies. While colloidal crystallization has been thoroughly studied, for example, with advanced in situ electron microscopy methods, the noncolloidal crystallization (freezing) of nanoparticles (NPs) remains so far unexplored. To fill this gap, in this work, we present proof-of-principle experiments decoding a crystallization of reconfigurable assemblies of NPs at a solid state. The chosen material corresponds to an excellent testing bed, as it enables both in situ and ex situ investigation using X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), high-angle annular dark-field scanning transmission electron microscopy (HAADF-STEM), atomic force microscopy (AFM), and optical spectroscopy in visible and ultraviolet range (UV-vis) techniques. In particular, ensemble measurements with small-angle XRD highlighted the dependence of the correlation length in the NPs assemblies on the number of heating/cooling cycles and the rate of cooling. Ex situ TEM imaging further supported these results by revealing a dependence of domain size and structure on the sample preparation route and by showing we can control the domain size over 2 orders of magnitude. The application of HAADF-STEM tomography, combined with in situ thermal control, provided three-dimensional single-particle level information on the positional order evolution within assemblies. This combination of real and reciprocal space provides insightful information on the anisotropic, reversibly reconfigurable assemblies of NPs. TEM measurements also highlighted the importance of interfaces in the polydomain structure of nanoparticle solids, allowing us to understand experimentally observed differences in UV-vis extinction spectra of the differently prepared crystallites. Overall, the obtained results show that the combination of in situ heating HAADF-STEM tomography with XRD and ex situ TEM techniques is a powerful approach to study nanoparticle freezing processes and to reveal the crucial impact of disorder in the solid-state aggregates of NPs on their plasmonic properties.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maciej Bagiński
- Faculty
of Chemistry, University of Warsaw, 1 Pasteura St., 02-093 Warsaw, Poland
| | - Adrián Pedrazo-Tardajos
- Electron
Microscopy for Materials Research, University
of Antwerp, Groenenborgerlaan, 171, 2020 Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Thomas Altantzis
- Electron
Microscopy for Materials Research, University
of Antwerp, Groenenborgerlaan, 171, 2020 Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Martyna Tupikowska
- Faculty
of Chemistry, University of Warsaw, 1 Pasteura St., 02-093 Warsaw, Poland
| | - Andreas Vetter
- Institute
of Theoretical Solid State Physics, Karlsruhe
Institute of Technology, 76131 Karlsruhe, Germany
| | - Ewelina Tomczyk
- Faculty
of Chemistry, University of Warsaw, 1 Pasteura St., 02-093 Warsaw, Poland
| | - Radius N.S. Suryadharma
- Institute
of Theoretical Solid State Physics, Karlsruhe
Institute of Technology, 76131 Karlsruhe, Germany
| | - Mateusz Pawlak
- Faculty
of Chemistry, University of Warsaw, 1 Pasteura St., 02-093 Warsaw, Poland
| | - Aneta Andruszkiewicz
- Faculty
of Chemistry, University of Warsaw, 1 Pasteura St., 02-093 Warsaw, Poland
- Department
of Chemistry, Uppsala Universitet, Lägerhyddsvägen 1, 751 20 Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Ewa Górecka
- Faculty
of Chemistry, University of Warsaw, 1 Pasteura St., 02-093 Warsaw, Poland
| | - Damian Pociecha
- Faculty
of Chemistry, University of Warsaw, 1 Pasteura St., 02-093 Warsaw, Poland
| | - Carsten Rockstuhl
- Institute
of Theoretical Solid State Physics, Karlsruhe
Institute of Technology, 76131 Karlsruhe, Germany
- Institute
of Nanotechnology, Karlsruhe Institute of
Technology, 76021 Karlsruhe, Germany
| | - Sara Bals
- Electron
Microscopy for Materials Research, University
of Antwerp, Groenenborgerlaan, 171, 2020 Antwerp, Belgium
- (S.B.)
| | - Wiktor Lewandowski
- Faculty
of Chemistry, University of Warsaw, 1 Pasteura St., 02-093 Warsaw, Poland
- (W.L.)
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11
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Size-Dependent Thermo- and Photoresponsive Plasmonic Properties of Liquid Crystalline Gold Nanoparticles. MATERIALS 2020; 13:ma13040875. [PMID: 32075278 PMCID: PMC7078723 DOI: 10.3390/ma13040875] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/08/2020] [Revised: 02/09/2020] [Accepted: 02/11/2020] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Achieving remotely controlled, reversibly reconfigurable assemblies of plasmonic nanoparticles is a prerequisite for the development of future photonic technologies. Here, we obtained a series of gold-nanoparticle-based materials which exhibit long-range order, and which are controlled with light or thermal stimuli. The influence of the metallic core size and organic shell composition on the switchability is considered, with emphasis on achieving light-responsive behavior at room temperature and high yield production of nanoparticles. The latter translates to a wide size distribution of metallic cores but does not prevent their assembly into various, switchable 3D and 2D long-range ordered structures. These results provide clear guidelines as to the impact of size, size distribution, and organic shell composition on self-assembly, thus enhancing the smart design process of multi-responsive nanomaterials in a condensed state, hardly attainable by other self-assembly methods which usually require solvents.
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12
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Bagiński M, Tupikowska M, González-Rubio G, Wójcik M, Lewandowski W. Shaping Liquid Crystals with Gold Nanoparticles: Helical Assemblies with Tunable and Hierarchical Structures Via Thin-Film Cooperative Interactions. ADVANCED MATERIALS (DEERFIELD BEACH, FLA.) 2020; 32:e1904581. [PMID: 31729083 DOI: 10.1002/adma.201904581] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2019] [Revised: 09/26/2019] [Indexed: 05/21/2023]
Abstract
The availability of helical assemblies of plasmonic nanoparticles with precisely controlled and tunable structures can play a key role in the future development of chiral plasmonics and metamaterials. Here, a strategy to efficiently yield helical structures based on the cooperative interactions of liquid crystals and gold nanoparticles in thin films is developed. These nanocomposites exhibit exceptional long-range hierarchical order across length scales, which results from the growth mechanism of nanoparticle-coated twisted nanoribbons and their ability to form organized bundles. The helical assembly formation is governed by the presence of rationally functionalized nanoparticles. Importantly, the thickness of the achieved nanocomposites can be reversibly reconfigured owing to the polymorphic nature of the liquid crystal. The versatility of the proposed approach is demonstrated by preparing helices assembled from nanoparticles of different geometries and dimensions (spherical and rod-like). The described strategy may become an enabling technology for structuring nanoparticle assemblies with high precision and fabricating optically active materials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maciej Bagiński
- Laboratory of Organic Nanomaterials and Biomolecules, Faculty of Chemistry, University of Warsaw, Pasteura 1 Street, 02-093, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Martyna Tupikowska
- Laboratory of Organic Nanomaterials and Biomolecules, Faculty of Chemistry, University of Warsaw, Pasteura 1 Street, 02-093, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Guillermo González-Rubio
- BioNanoPlasmonic Laboratory, CIC biomaGUNE, Paseo de Miramón 182, Donostia-San Sebastián, 20014, Spain
| | - Michał Wójcik
- Laboratory of Organic Nanomaterials and Biomolecules, Faculty of Chemistry, University of Warsaw, Pasteura 1 Street, 02-093, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Wiktor Lewandowski
- Laboratory of Organic Nanomaterials and Biomolecules, Faculty of Chemistry, University of Warsaw, Pasteura 1 Street, 02-093, Warsaw, Poland
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13
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Kowerdziej R, Wróbel J, Kula P. Ultrafast electrical switching of nanostructured metadevice with dual-frequency liquid crystal. Sci Rep 2019; 9:20367. [PMID: 31889047 PMCID: PMC6937344 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-55656-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/15/2019] [Accepted: 11/28/2019] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Shortening of switching times of various soft-matter-based tunable metamaterials is one of the key challenges to improve the functionality of modern active devices. Here we show an effective strategy in the evolution of soft-matter-based tunable metamaterials that makes possible acceleration of both on and off switching processes by using a dual-frequency liquid crystal mixture. The frequency-convertible dielectric anisotropy of the dual-frequency mixture enabled us to create a fast-response in-plane switching metasurface at the nanoscale, which could be tuned by an electrical signal with different frequencies. The results clearly show that the resonance of the metamaterial can be continuously and reversibly controlled within a wavelength range of 100 nm as the applied frequency is inverted between 1 kHz and 40 kHz, with a total response time (τ = τON + τOFF) of 1.89 ms. Furthermore, experimental characteristics of the hybrid metamaterial are in great agreement with numerical calculations, which allow us to anticipate active epsilon-near-zero behavior of the metadevice. This work indicates the future development direction of liquid-crystal-based active plasmonic systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rafał Kowerdziej
- Institute of Applied Physics, Military University of Technology, 2 Kaliskiego Str., 00-908, Warsaw, Poland.
| | - Jerzy Wróbel
- Institute of Physics, Polish Academy of Sciences, 32/46 Lotników Avenue, 02-668, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Przemysław Kula
- Institute of Chemistry, Military University of Technology, 2 Kaliskiego Str., 00-908, Warsaw, Poland
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14
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Tomczyk E, Promiński A, Bagiński M, Górecka E, Wójcik M. Gold Nanoparticles Thin Films with Thermo- and Photoresponsive Plasmonic Properties Realized with Liquid-Crystalline Ligands. SMALL (WEINHEIM AN DER BERGSTRASSE, GERMANY) 2019; 15:e1902807. [PMID: 31348618 DOI: 10.1002/smll.201902807] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2019] [Revised: 07/05/2019] [Indexed: 05/13/2023]
Abstract
Robust synthesis of large-scale self-assembled nanostructures with long-range organization and a prominent response to external stimuli is critical to their application in functional plasmonics. Here, the first example of a material made of liquid crystalline nanoparticles which exhibits UV-light responsive surface plasmon resonance in a condensed state is presented. To obtain the material, metal cores are grafted with two types of organic ligands. A promesogenic derivative softens the system and induces rich liquid crystal phase polymorphism. Second, an azobenzene derivative endows nanoparticles with photoresponsive properties. It is shown that nanoparticles covered with a mixture of these ligands assemble into long-range ordered structures which exhibit a novel dual-responsivity. The structure and plasmonic properties of the assemblies can be controlled by a change in temperature as well as by UV-light irradiation. These results present an efficient way to obtain bulk quantities of self-assembled nanostructured materials with stability that is unattainable by alternative methods such as matrix-assisted or DNA-mediated organization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ewelina Tomczyk
- Laboratory of Organic Nanomaterials and Biomolecules, Faculty of Chemistry, University of Warsaw, Pasteura 1 Street, 02-093, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Aleksander Promiński
- Laboratory of Organic Nanomaterials and Biomolecules, Faculty of Chemistry, University of Warsaw, Pasteura 1 Street, 02-093, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Maciej Bagiński
- Laboratory of Organic Nanomaterials and Biomolecules, Faculty of Chemistry, University of Warsaw, Pasteura 1 Street, 02-093, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Ewa Górecka
- Laboratory of Physicochemistry of Dielectrics and Magnetics, Faculty of Chemistry, University of Warsaw, wirki i Wigury 101 Street, 02-089, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Michał Wójcik
- Laboratory of Organic Nanomaterials and Biomolecules, Faculty of Chemistry, University of Warsaw, Pasteura 1 Street, 02-093, Warsaw, Poland
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15
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Troha T, Kaspar M, Hamplova V, Cigl M, Havlicek J, Pociecha D, Novotna V. Silver Nanoparticles with Liquid Crystalline Ligands Based on Lactic Acid Derivatives. NANOMATERIALS 2019; 9:nano9081066. [PMID: 31349601 PMCID: PMC6723366 DOI: 10.3390/nano9081066] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/24/2019] [Revised: 07/17/2019] [Accepted: 07/19/2019] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
We have prepared and studied silver nanoparticles functionalized with ligands based on lactic acid derivatives. Several types of hybrid systems that differed in the size of silver nanoparticles as well as the length of surface ligands were analyzed. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) observation provided information about the size and shape of nanoparticles and proved good homogeneity of studied systems. By dynamic light scattering (DLS) measurements, we have measured the size distribution of nanoparticle systems. Plasmonic resonance was detected at around 450 nm. For two hybrid systems, the mesomorphic behaviour has been demonstrated by x-ray measurements. The observed thermotropic liquid crystalline phases reveal lamellar character. We have proposed a model based on self-assembly of intercalated liquid crystalline ligands.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tinkara Troha
- Institute of Physics of the Czech Academy of Sciences, 18221 Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Miroslav Kaspar
- Institute of Physics of the Czech Academy of Sciences, 18221 Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Vera Hamplova
- Institute of Physics of the Czech Academy of Sciences, 18221 Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Martin Cigl
- Institute of Physics of the Czech Academy of Sciences, 18221 Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Jaroslav Havlicek
- Institute of Physics of the Czech Academy of Sciences, 18221 Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Damian Pociecha
- Faculty of Chemistry, University of Warsaw, ul. Zwirki i Wigury 101, 02-089 Warsaw, Poland
| | - Vladimira Novotna
- Institute of Physics of the Czech Academy of Sciences, 18221 Prague, Czech Republic.
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16
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Choudhary A, George TF, Li G. Conjugation of Nanomaterials and Nematic Liquid Crystals for Futuristic Applications and Biosensors. BIOSENSORS 2018; 8:E69. [PMID: 30011909 PMCID: PMC6165262 DOI: 10.3390/bios8030069] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2018] [Revised: 06/24/2018] [Accepted: 07/02/2018] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
The established role of nematic liquid crystals (NLCs) in the recent rapid development of displays has motivated researchers to modulate the electro-optical properties of LCs. Furthermore, adding nanomaterials into NLCs has led to enhancements of the properties of NLCs, like reduced threshold of the operating voltage, variation in pretilt angle, reduced switching time, etc. These enhanced properties, due to interfacial dynamics, are enabling wider applications of NLCs and nanomaterials. The recent literature of nanomaterial-doped NLCs is rich with various kinds of nanomaterials in a variety of NLCs. The light has been focused on the most widely used and studied gold nanoparticles in NLCs. The intrinsic inherent property of easy excitation of surface plasmons polaritons (SPP) is the mediating interaction of NLC electric dipoles and the polarization of charges in the GNP surface. The concepts and methods for the application of metal nanomaterials as dopants in NLCs are discussed for future applications, especially biosensors. The biosensing application of NLCs alone has already been proven in the literature. However, it is always desirable to further enhance the detection efficiency and selectivity, which have been achieved by the conjugation of GNPs and nickel nanoparticles with NLCs and their compatibility with biological materials. This aspect of future application of nanoparticles and NLC makes the point more selective to be included in the present manuscript.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amit Choudhary
- Department of Physics, Deshbandhu College, University of Delhi, Kalkaji, New Delhi 110019, India.
| | - Thomas F George
- Departments of Chemistry & Biochemistry and Physics & Astronomy, University of Missouri⁻St. Louis, St. Louis, MO 63121, USA.
| | - Guoqiang Li
- Visual and Biomedical Optics Lab, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43212, USA.
- Biomolecular Sciences Institute, Florida International University, Miami, FL 33199, USA.
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Modifying Thermal Switchability of Liquid Crystalline Nanoparticles by Alkyl Ligands Variation. NANOMATERIALS 2018. [PMID: 29518916 PMCID: PMC5869638 DOI: 10.3390/nano8030147] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
By coating plasmonic nanoparticles (NPs) with thermally responsive liquid crystals (LCs) it is possible to prepare reversibly reconfigurable plasmonic nanomaterials with prospective applications in optoelectronic devices. However, simple and versatile methods to precisely tailor properties of liquid-crystalline nanoparticles (LC NPs) are still required. Here, we report a new method for tuning structural properties of assemblies of nanoparticles grafted with a mixture of promesogenic and alkyl thiols, by varying design of the latter. As a model system, we used Ag and Au nanoparticles that were coated with three-ring promesogenic molecules and dodecanethiol ligand. These LC NPs self-assemble into switchable lamellar (Ag NPs) or tetragonal (Au NPs) aggregates, as determined with small angle X-ray diffraction and transmission electron microscopy. Reconfigurable assemblies of Au NPs with different unit cell symmetry (orthorombic) are formed if hexadecanethiol and 1H,1H,2H,2H-perfluorodecanethiol were used in the place of dodecanethiol; in the case of Ag NPs the use of 11-hydroxyundecanethiol promotes formation of a lamellar structure as in the reference system, although with substantially broader range of thermal stability (140 vs. 90 °C). Our results underline the importance of alkyl ligand functionalities in determining structural properties of liquid-crystalline nanoparticles, and, more generally, broaden the scope of synthetic tools available for tailoring properties of reversibly reconfigurable plasmonic nanomaterials.
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18
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Wójcik MM, Wróbel J, Jańczuk ZZ, Mieczkowski J, Górecka E, Choi J, Cho M, Pociecha D. Liquid-Crystalline Elastomers with Gold Nanoparticle Cross-Linkers. Chemistry 2017; 23:8912-8920. [PMID: 28444785 DOI: 10.1002/chem.201700723] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2017] [Indexed: 11/12/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Michał M. Wójcik
- Faculty of Chemistry; University of Warsaw; 1 Pasteur str. 02-093 Warsaw Poland
| | - Jarosław Wróbel
- Faculty of Chemistry; University of Warsaw; 1 Pasteur str. 02-093 Warsaw Poland
| | - Zuzanna Z. Jańczuk
- Faculty of Chemistry; University of Warsaw; 1 Pasteur str. 02-093 Warsaw Poland
| | - Józef Mieczkowski
- Faculty of Chemistry; University of Warsaw; 1 Pasteur str. 02-093 Warsaw Poland
| | - Ewa Górecka
- Faculty of Chemistry; University of Warsaw; 1 Pasteur str. 02-093 Warsaw Poland
| | - Joonmyung Choi
- School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering; Seoul National University; 1 Gwanak-ro, 1 Gwanak-gu 08826 Seoul Korea
| | - Maenghyo Cho
- School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering; Seoul National University; 1 Gwanak-ro, 1 Gwanak-gu 08826 Seoul Korea
| | - Damian Pociecha
- Faculty of Chemistry; University of Warsaw; 1 Pasteur str. 02-093 Warsaw Poland
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