Polymer-templated self-assembly of a 2-dimensional gold nanoparticle network.
We here report on the formation of well-ordered 2D gold nanostructures at the air/water interface. Spreading a mixture of alkanethiol-capped gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) and an amphiphilic poly(p-phenylene) on a water surface and compressing the mixture to a surface pressure of 40 mN/m lead to the formation of a network of well-ordered gold nanostructures. The structures are transferred horizontally (Langmuir-Schäfer) onto a solid substrate and investigated with TEM, AFM, and X-ray reflectivity, showing a pattern that is repeating over several micrometers. AFM and X-ray reflectivity data at different surface pressures reveal that the polymer is lifting the AuNPs 1.5-2 nm in the vertical direction, away from the polymer layer, when the pressure is increased from 20 to 40 mN/m.
Hansen
Christian Rein
CR
Nano-Science Center and Department of Chemistry, University of Copenhagen, Universitetsparken 5, Copenhagen Ø, Denmark.
Westerlund
Fredrik
F
Moth-Poulsen
Kasper
K
Ravindranath
Renu
R
Valiyaveettil
Suresh
S
Bjørnholm
Thomas
T