Scientists in China and Australia have directed the self-assembly of colloidal nanoparticles (NPs) of Au and CdTe into perfect hexagonal microflakes and ultralong microwires, respectively, via stepwise reduction of the electrostatic repulsion potential of neighbouring NPs in the dispersions with the help of L-cysteine.
The work should provide a fundamental basis for better interpretation and prediction of shape-controlled crystallisation and organisation of nanoscale building blocks to mesoscopic and macroscopic artificial solids.
Link to journal article
Shape-Controlled Self-Assembly of Colloidal Nanoparticles
B Zhang, W Zhao and D Wang
Chem. Sci., 2012, DOI: 10.1039/c2sc00016d
