title: Dewetting self-assembly of nanoparticles into hexagonal array of nanorings.
abstract: Nanoparticles self-assembled into ring-shaped aggregates that were arranged in a two-dimensional (2D) hexagonal pattern. This hierarchic pattern was prepared by casting a toluene solution composed of polystyrene (PS) and Ag nanoparticles (NP). Dewetting of the thin composite layer induced the mesoscopic hexagonal array of PS-NP droplets. Within each dried droplet (dot), Ag nanoparticles self-assembled into a spot- or a ring-shaped 2D superlattice alternatively depending on the size of the dot, which was controlled by the molecular weight of PS.
authors.affiliation: Nanotechnology Research Institute, National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology, AIST Central 5-2, 1-1-1 Higashi, Tsukuba 305-8565, Japan.
authors.forename: Nobuhiko J
authors.initials: NJ
authors.lastname: Suematsu
authors.forename: Yumi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Ogawa
authors.forename: Yasuhiko
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Yamamoto
authors.forename: Tomohiko
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Yamaguchi