Directional Entropic Force Approach to Assemble Anisotropic Nanoparticles into Superlattices.

摘要

Not touching but sticking: By using cationic surfactant micelles as depletants, a directional entropic force approach (DEFA) assembles anisotropic nanoparticles into superlattices in solution. The micelles induce the face-to-face stacking of the nanoparticles to maximize the system's entropy. The shape of the nanoparticles determines the symmetry of the superlattice, the interparticle spacing is determined by the charged surfactant.