Complex crystal structures formed by the self-assembly of ditethered nanospheres.
We report the results from a computational study of the self-assembly of amphiphilic ditethered nanospheres using molecular simulation. As a function of the interaction strength and directionality of the tether-tether interactions, we predict the formation of four highly ordered phases not previously reported for nanoparticle systems. We find a double diamond structure comprised of a zinc blende (binary diamond) arrangement of spherical micelles with a complementary diamond network of nanoparticles (ZnS/D), a phase of alternating spherical micelles in a NaCl structure with a complementary simple cubic network of nanoparticles to form an overall crystal structure identical to that of AlCu2Mn (NaCl/SC), an alternating tetragonal ordered cylinder phase with a tetragonal mesh of nanoparticles described by the [8,8,4] Archimedean tiling (TC/T), and an alternating diamond phase in which both diamond networks are formed by the tethers (AD) within a nanoparticle matrix. We compare these structures with those observed in linear and star triblock copolymer systems.
Iacovella
Christopher R
CR
Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109-2136, USA.
Glotzer
Sharon C
SC
D003198:Computer Simulation; D003460:Crystallization; D018130:Diamond / Q000737:chemistry; D053768:Metal Nanoparticles / Q000737:chemistry; D008823:Micelles; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D008968:Molecular Conformation; D054118:Nanospheres / Q000737:chemistry*; D036103:Nanotechnology / Q000379:methods*; D011108:Polymers / Q000737:chemistry; D015032:Zinc / Q000737:chemistry
D008823:Micelles; D011108:Polymers; D018130:Diamond; D015032:Zinc