Self-assembly of nanocrystal checkerboard patterns via non-specific interactions

• DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-47572-2
• Publication Date: 2024-05-09T15:02:24Z
• Authors: Yufei Wang; Yilong Zhou; Quanpeng Yang; Rourav Basak; Yu Xie; Dong Le; Alexander D. Fuqua; Wade Shipley; Zachary Yam; Alex Frano; Gaurav Arya; Andrea R. Tao
• Keywords: Checkerboard

Checkerboard lattices-where the resulting structure is open, porous, and highly symmetric-are difficult to create by self-assembly. Synthetic systems that adopt such structures typically rely on shape complementarity site-specific chemical interactions are only available biomolecular (e.g., protein, DNA). Here we show assembly of checkerboard lattices from colloidal nanocrystals harness effects multiple, coupled physical forces at disparate length scales (interfacial, interparticle, intermolecular) do not binding. Colloidal Ag nanocubes were bi-functionalized with mixtures hydrophilic hydrophobic surface ligands subsequently assembled an air-water interface. Using feedback between molecular dynamics simulations interfacial experiments, achieve a periodic mesostructure represents tiny fraction phase space associated polymer-grafted used in these experiments. In broader context, this work expands our knowledge non-specific nanocrystal presents computation-guided strategy for designing self-assembling materials.