TY - JOUR
T1 - Imaging the polymerization of multivalent nanoparticles in solution
AU - Kim, Juyeong
AU - Ou, Zihao
AU - Jones, Matthew R.
AU - Song, Xiaohui
AU - Chen, Qian
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2017 The Author(s).
PY - 2017/12/1
Y1 - 2017/12/1
N2 - Numerous mechanisms have been studied for chemical reactions to provide quantitative predictions on how atoms spatially arrange into molecules. In nanoscale colloidal systems, however, less is known about the physical rules governing their spatial organization, i.e., self-assembly, into functional materials. Here, we monitor real-time self-assembly dynamics at the single nanoparticle level, which reveal marked similarities to foundational principles of polymerization. Specifically, using the prototypical system of gold triangular nanoprisms, we show that colloidal self-assembly is analogous to polymerization in three aspects: ensemble growth statistics following models for step-growth polymerization, with nanoparticles as linkable "monomers"; bond angles determined by directional internanoparticle interactions; and product topology determined by the valency of monomeric units. Liquid-phase transmission electron microscopy imaging and theoretical modeling elucidate the nanometer-scale mechanisms for these polymer-like phenomena in nanoparticle systems. The results establish a quantitative conceptual framework for self-assembly dynamics that can aid in designing future nanoparticle-based materials.
AB - Numerous mechanisms have been studied for chemical reactions to provide quantitative predictions on how atoms spatially arrange into molecules. In nanoscale colloidal systems, however, less is known about the physical rules governing their spatial organization, i.e., self-assembly, into functional materials. Here, we monitor real-time self-assembly dynamics at the single nanoparticle level, which reveal marked similarities to foundational principles of polymerization. Specifically, using the prototypical system of gold triangular nanoprisms, we show that colloidal self-assembly is analogous to polymerization in three aspects: ensemble growth statistics following models for step-growth polymerization, with nanoparticles as linkable "monomers"; bond angles determined by directional internanoparticle interactions; and product topology determined by the valency of monomeric units. Liquid-phase transmission electron microscopy imaging and theoretical modeling elucidate the nanometer-scale mechanisms for these polymer-like phenomena in nanoparticle systems. The results establish a quantitative conceptual framework for self-assembly dynamics that can aid in designing future nanoparticle-based materials.
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U2 - 10.1038/s41467-017-00857-1
DO - 10.1038/s41467-017-00857-1
M3 - Article
C2 - 28970557
AN - SCOPUS:85030543864
SN - 2041-1723
VL - 8
JO - Nature communications
JF - Nature communications
IS - 1
M1 - 761
ER -