Tuning the Growth Mode of 3D Silver Nanocrystal Superlattices by Triphenylphosphine

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• 作者：Karima Ouhenia-Ouadahi ; Amandine Andrieux-Ledier ; Johannes Richardi ; Pierre-Antoine Albouy ; Patricia Beaunier ; Peter Sutter ; Eli Sutter ; Alexa Courty
• 刊名：Chemistry of Materials
• 出版年：2016
• 出版时间：June 28, 2016
• 年：2016
• 卷：28
• 期：12
• 页码：4380-4389
• 全文大小：703K
• 年卷期：0
• ISSN：1520-5002

文摘

Here, we show that the residual presence of reaction products markedly influences the growth mode of 3D superlattices made of silver nanocrystals. The silver nanocrystals (5 or 6 nm in diameter) are synthesized via the reduction of a silver triphenylphosphine complex in the presence of thiols. The presence of triphenylphosphine, coming from the decomposition of the silver precursor, is shown to change the superlattice growth mode in hexane from heterogeneous to homogeneous. In toluene, it remains homogeneous. This is in agreement with simulations based on a Flory-type model, which shows that the interaction potential between the silver nanocrystals in the presence of triphenylphosphine changes from repulsive to attractive in hexane and becomes even more attractive in toluene. Ex situ investigation of the different superlattices following solvent evaporation by scanning electron microscopy reveals different morphologies depending on the growth mode. A transition from films to individual hexagonal-shaped superlattices is observed when the growth mode changes from heterogeneous to homogeneous. Direct in situ observations of the 3D superlattice growth by liquid cell transmission electron microscopy follow in real time the formation process and movement of the superlattices in both hexane and toluene solvents.