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Nagaoka Y, Schneider J, Jin N, Cai T, Liu Y, Wang Z, Li R, Kim KS, Chen O. Dynamic Transformation of High-Architectural Nanocrystal Superlattices upon Solvent Molecule Exposure. J Am Chem Soc 2024; 146:13093-13104. [PMID: 38690763 DOI: 10.1021/jacs.3c14603] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/03/2024]
Abstract
The cluster-based body-centered-cubic superlattice (cBCC SL) represents one of the most complicated structures among reported nanocrystal assemblies, comprised of 72 truncated tetrahedral quantum dots per unit cell. Our previous report revealed that truncated tetrahedral quantum dots within cBCC SLs possessed highly controlled translational and orientational order owing to an unusual energetic landscape based on the balancing of entropic and enthalpic contributions during the assembly process. However, the cBCC SL's structural transformability and mechanical properties, uniquely originating from such complicated nanostructures, have yet to be investigated. Herein, we report that cBCC SLs can undergo dynamic transformation to face-centered-cubic SLs in response to post-assembly molecular exposure. We monitored the dynamic transformation process using in situ synchrotron-based small-angle X-ray scattering, revealing a dynamic transformation involving multiple steps underpinned by interactions between incoming molecules and TTQDs' surface ligands. Furthermore, our mechanistic study demonstrated that the precise configuration of TTQDs' ligand molecules in cBCC SLs was key to their high structural transformability and unique jelly-like soft mechanical properties. While ligand molecular configurations in nanocrystal SLs are often considered minor features, our findings emphasize their significance in controlling weak van der Waals interactions between nanocrystals within assembled SLs, leading to previously unremarked superstructural transformability and unique mechanical properties. Our findings promote a facile route toward further creation of soft materials, nanorobotics, and out-of-equilibrium assemblies based on nanocrystal building blocks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yasutaka Nagaoka
- Department of Chemistry, Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island 02912, United States
| | - Jeremy Schneider
- Department of Chemistry, Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island 02912, United States
| | - Na Jin
- Department of Chemistry, Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island 02912, United States
| | - Tong Cai
- Department of Chemistry, Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island 02912, United States
| | - Yuzi Liu
- Center for Nanoscale Materials, Argonne National Laboratory, Argonne, Illinois 60439, United States
| | - Zhongwu Wang
- Cornell High Energy Synchrotron Source, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York 14853, United States
| | - Ruipeng Li
- National Synchrotron Light Source II, Brookhaven National Laboratory, Upton, New York 11973, United States
| | - Kyung-Suk Kim
- School of Engineering, Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island 02912, United States
| | - Ou Chen
- Department of Chemistry, Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island 02912, United States
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Ning Y, Yang S, Yang DB, Cai YY, Xu J, Li R, Zhang Y, Kagan CR, Saven JG, Murray CB. Dynamic Nanocrystal Superlattices with Thermally Triggerable Lubricating Ligands. J Am Chem Soc 2024; 146:3785-3795. [PMID: 38295018 DOI: 10.1021/jacs.3c10706] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/02/2024]
Abstract
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.
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Sellschopp K, Vonbun-Feldbauer GB. Mechanical properties of TiO 2/carboxylic-acid interfaces from first-principles calculations. NANOSCALE 2023; 15:16967-16975. [PMID: 37823858 DOI: 10.1039/d3nr01045g] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/13/2023]
Abstract
Nature forms structurally complex materials with a large variation of mechanical and physical properties from only very few organic compounds and minerals. Nanocomposites made from TiO2 and carboxylic-acids, two substances that are available to nature as well as materials engineers, can be seen as representative of a huge class of natural and bio-inspired materials. The hybrid interfaces between the two components are thought to determine the overall properties of the composite. Yet, little is known about the atomistic processes at those interfaces under load and their failure mechanisms. The present work models the stress-strain curves of TiO2/carboxylic-acid interfaces in the slow deformation limit for different facets and binding modes, employing density functional theory calculations. Contrary to former hypotheses, the interface rarely fails through a de-bonding of the molecule, but rather through a surface failure mechanism. Furthermore, a stress-release mechanism is discovered for the bi-dentate binding mode on the {101} facet. Deriving mechanical properties, such as the interface strength, strain at interface failure, and the elastic modulus, allows a comparison with experimental results. The calculated strengths and elastic moduli already agree qualitatively with properties of nanocomposites, despite the simplifications in the model consisting of periodic sandwich structures. The results presented here will help to improve these materials and can be directly integrated in multi-scale simulations, in order to reach a more accurate quantitative description.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kai Sellschopp
- Institute of Advanced Ceramics, Hamburg University of Technology, Denickestr. 15, 21073 Hamburg, Hamburg, Germany.
| | - Gregor B Vonbun-Feldbauer
- Institute of Advanced Ceramics, Hamburg University of Technology, Denickestr. 15, 21073 Hamburg, Hamburg, Germany.
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Dhulipala S, Yee DW, Zhou Z, Sun R, Andrade JE, Macfarlane RJ, Portela CM. Tunable Mechanical Response of Self-Assembled Nanoparticle Superlattices. NANO LETTERS 2023. [PMID: 37216440 DOI: 10.1021/acs.nanolett.3c01058] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/24/2023]
Abstract
Self-assembled nanoparticle superlattices (NPSLs) are an emergent class of self-architected nanocomposite materials that possess promising properties arising from precise nanoparticle ordering. Their multiple coupled properties make them desirable as functional components in devices where mechanical robustness is critical. However, questions remain about NPSL mechanical properties and how shaping them affects their mechanical response. Here, we perform in situ nanomechanical experiments that evidence up to an 11-fold increase in stiffness (∼1.49 to 16.9 GPa) and a 5-fold increase in strength (∼88 to 426 MPa) because of surface stiffening/strengthening from shaping these nanomaterials via focused-ion-beam milling. To predict the mechanical properties of shaped NPSLs, we present discrete element method (DEM) simulations and an analytical core-shell model that capture the FIB-induced stiffening response. This work presents a route for tunable mechanical responses of self-architected NPSLs and provides two frameworks to predict their mechanical response and guide the design of future NPSL-containing devices.
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Affiliation(s)
- Somayajulu Dhulipala
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, United States
| | - Daryl W Yee
- Department of Material Science and Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, United States
| | - Ziran Zhou
- Department of Mechanical and Civil Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, California 91125, United States
| | - Rachel Sun
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, United States
| | - José E Andrade
- Department of Mechanical and Civil Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, California 91125, United States
| | - Robert J Macfarlane
- Department of Material Science and Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, United States
| | - Carlos M Portela
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, United States
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Verma R, Belgamwar R, Chatterjee P, Bericat-Vadell R, Sa J, Polshettiwar V. Nickel-Laden Dendritic Plasmonic Colloidosomes of Black Gold: Forced Plasmon Mediated Photocatalytic CO 2 Hydrogenation. ACS NANO 2023; 17:4526-4538. [PMID: 36780645 DOI: 10.1021/acsnano.2c10470] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
In this work, we have designed and synthesized nickel-laden dendritic plasmonic colloidosomes of Au (black gold-Ni). The photocatalytic CO2 hydrogenation activities of black gold-Ni increased dramatically to the extent that measurable photoactivity was only observed with the black gold-Ni catalyst, with a very high photocatalytic CO production rate (2464 ± 40 mmol gNi-1 h-1) and 95% selectivity. Notably, the reaction was carried out in a flow reactor at low temperature and atmospheric pressure without external heating. The catalyst was stable for at least 100 h. Ultrafast transient absorption spectroscopy studies indicated indirect hot-electron transfer from the black gold to Ni in less than 100 fs, corroborated by a reduction in Au-plasmon electron-phonon lifetime and a bleach signal associated with Ni d-band filling. Photocatalytic reaction rates on excited black gold-Ni showed a superlinear power law dependence on the light intensity, with a power law exponent of 5.6, while photocatalytic quantum efficiencies increased with an increase in light intensity and reaction temperature, which indicated the hot-electron-mediated mechanism. The kinetic isotope effect (KIE) in light (1.91) was higher than that in the dark (∼1), which further indicated the electron-driven plasmonic CO2 hydrogenation. Black gold-Ni catalyzed CO2 hydrogenation in the presence of an electron-accepting molecule, methyl-p-benzoquinone, reduced the CO production rate, asserting the hot-electron-mediated mechanism. Operando diffuse reflectance infrared Fourier transform spectroscopy (DRIFTS) showed that CO2 hydrogenation took place by a direct dissociation path via linearly bonded Ni-CO intermediates. The outstanding catalytic performance of black gold-Ni may provide a way to develop plasmonic catalysts for CO2 reduction and other catalytic processes using black gold.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rishi Verma
- Department of Chemical Sciences, Tata Institute of Fundamental Research (TIFR), Mumbai 400005, India
| | - Rajesh Belgamwar
- Department of Chemical Sciences, Tata Institute of Fundamental Research (TIFR), Mumbai 400005, India
| | - Pratip Chatterjee
- Department of Chemical Sciences, Tata Institute of Fundamental Research (TIFR), Mumbai 400005, India
| | - Robert Bericat-Vadell
- Department of Chemistry-Ångström Laboratory, Uppsala University, Uppsala 75120, Sweden
| | - Jacinto Sa
- Department of Chemistry-Ångström Laboratory, Uppsala University, Uppsala 75120, Sweden
| | - Vivek Polshettiwar
- Department of Chemical Sciences, Tata Institute of Fundamental Research (TIFR), Mumbai 400005, India
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Erik Beck E, Weimer A, Feld A, Vonk V, Noei H, Lott D, Jeromin A, Kulkarni S, Giuntini D, Plunkett A, Domènech B, Schneider GA, Vossmeyer T, Weller H, Keller TF, Stierle A. Solvent controlled 2D structures of bottom-up fabricated nanoparticle superlattices. NANOSCALE 2023; 15:4506-4514. [PMID: 36753337 DOI: 10.1039/d2nr03043h] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
We demonstrate that oleyl phosphate ligand-stabilized iron oxide nanocubes as building blocks can be assembled into 2D supercrystalline mono- and multilayers on flat YSZ substrates within a few minutes using a simple spin-coating process. As a bottom-up process, the growth takes place in a layer-by-layer mode and therefore by tuning the spin-coating parameters, the exact number of deposited monolayers can be controlled. Furthermore, ex situ scanning electron and atomic force microscopy as well as X-ray reflectivity measurements give evidence that the choice of solvent allows the control of the lattice type of the final supercrystalline monolayers. This observation can be assigned to the different Hansen solubilities of the solvents used for the nanoparticle dispersion because it determines the size and morphology of the ligand shell surrounding the nanoparticle core. Here, by using toluene and chloroform as solvents, it can be controlled whether the resulting monolayers are ordered in a square or hexagonal supercrystalline lattice.
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Affiliation(s)
- E Erik Beck
- Centre for X-ray and Nano Science, Deutsches Elektronen-Synchrotron (DESY), Germany.
| | - Agnes Weimer
- Institute of Physical Chemistry, Universität Hamburg, Germany
| | - Artur Feld
- Institute of Physical Chemistry, Universität Hamburg, Germany
| | - Vedran Vonk
- Centre for X-ray and Nano Science, Deutsches Elektronen-Synchrotron (DESY), Germany.
| | - Heshmat Noei
- Centre for X-ray and Nano Science, Deutsches Elektronen-Synchrotron (DESY), Germany.
| | | | - Arno Jeromin
- Centre for X-ray and Nano Science, Deutsches Elektronen-Synchrotron (DESY), Germany.
| | - Satishkumar Kulkarni
- Centre for X-ray and Nano Science, Deutsches Elektronen-Synchrotron (DESY), Germany.
| | - Diletta Giuntini
- Institute of Advanced Ceramics, Hamburg University of Technology, Germany
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Eindhoven University of Technology, Netherlands
| | - Alexander Plunkett
- Institute of Advanced Ceramics, Hamburg University of Technology, Germany
| | - Berta Domènech
- Institute of Advanced Ceramics, Hamburg University of Technology, Germany
- ams-OSRAM International GmbH, ams OSRAM Group, Leibnizstr. 4, 93055 Regensburg, Germany
| | - Gerold A Schneider
- Institute of Advanced Ceramics, Hamburg University of Technology, Germany
| | | | - Horst Weller
- Institute of Physical Chemistry, Universität Hamburg, Germany
- Fraunhofer Center for Applied Nanotechnology, Grindelallee 117, 20146 Hamburg, Germany
| | - Thomas F Keller
- Centre for X-ray and Nano Science, Deutsches Elektronen-Synchrotron (DESY), Germany.
- Physics Department, Universität Hamburg, Germany
| | - Andreas Stierle
- Institute of Physical Chemistry, Universität Hamburg, Germany
- Physics Department, Universität Hamburg, Germany
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