Exploiting the unique anisotropy and fluidity of liquid crystals (LCs) enables the design of advanced hybrid nanomaterials for photonic applications. The intrinsic long-range order of the LCs matrix can act as a structural template, directing nanoscale dopants into well-defined geometrical configurations and enabling precise control over nanoparticle distribution. Here, we use an inverted hexagonal phase (H2) of sodium bis(2-ethylhexyl) sulfosuccinate (AOT), p-xylene, and a water dispersion of gold nanorods (AuNRs) to fabricate well-ordered nanomaterial assemblies. Scanning transmission electron microscopy of thin films reveals AuNR chains extending up to 30 μm in length with a mean interparticle spacing of about 5 nm and a 2D order parameter S 2D = 0.96 ± 0.10. Correlative multiphoton and polarizing microscopy demonstrate a uniform arrangement of AuNRs within the central region of the sample thickness, particularly at the domain boundaries. The performed nanostructural characterization suggests the ordering mechanism and highlights the impact of anchoring forces on nanorod ordering and microstructure formation in the bulk sample.
Precise control over the self-assembly pathways of anisotropic nanoparticles into supercrystals is essential for constructing functional nanodevices and metamaterials with tailored superstructures. However, the crystallization of nanoparticle systems via the conventional electrostatic screening method usually leads t...
Interfacial nanopatterning is central to nanotechnology, with applications ranging from electronics to sensing and soft nanofabrication. Conventional approaches often rely on top-down methodologies that require high energy inputs and sophisticated equipment, and offer limited scalability. Bottom-up strategies, particul...
Miriam Peña-Figueroa, A. Maestro, Ester Verde-Sesto et al.· Small· 0 citations
Mechanochromic structural‐color hydrogels are promising materials for sensing and display applications; however, simultaneous control of hue and brightness remains challenging. Here, we report a simple and effective strategy for tuning optical parameters by adsorbing alkyltrimethylammonium ions (CnTMA, where n denotes...
Translating the solution-phase properties of colloidal nanocrystals into bulk porous monoliths requires gelation strategies that preserve the surface chemistry and electronic structure of the building blocks, a particular challenge for substoichiometric oxides whose function is tied to their oxygen vacancy population...
Tzu-Yu Tzeng, Yue-Cih Lin, Jiali Wei et al.· Journal of Physical Chemistr...· 0 citations
Soft-templating through the co-assembly of surfactants and precursors is a powerful strategy for synthesizing ordered porous materials. However, the range of available precursors and materials is relatively limited, and the correlation between precursor structure and the resulting morphology remains largely unexplored....
Guo-Kang He, Xin-Wen Ou, Jian-Jun Su et al.· Advances in Materials· 0 citations
Constructing ordered plasmonic superstructures with sub-2 nm interparticle gaps via spontaneous self-assembly remains a formidable challenge; however, it is the key to generating strong electromagnetic fields for molecular optical amplification. Herein, we report the synthesis and structure determination of a metalli...
Hui-Na Liao, Qi Dai, Nian-Ling Li et al.· Inorganic Chemistry· 0 citations
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