title: Surfactant-free self-assembly of nanocrystals into ellipsoidal architectures.
abstract: A simple approach to control the self-assembly of ZnS nanocrystals into well-defined, uniform, three-dimensional, micrometer-scale, solid ellipsoidal structures with rattle-type, multishelled, and hollow architectures is presented. There is no surfactant or small molecule to assist the self-assembly of the nanocrystals. A possible mechanism of the controlled self-assembly is proposed. The growth process can be divided into two stages: 1) the formation of ellipsoidal architectures via oriented aggregation, the growth kinetics of which is primarily attributed to the charge-charge, charge-dipole, and dipole-dipole interactions of preformed ZnS nanocrystals; and 2) Ostwald ripening, which results in multishelled, rattle-type, and hollow structures. This self-assembly concept is also applicable to other metal sulfides.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Controllable Preparation and Application of Nanomaterials, Technical Institute of Physics and Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, No.2 Beiyitiao Zhongguancun, Beijing 100190, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Bo
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Peng
authors.forename: Dong
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Zhengtao
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Deng
authors.forename: Ting
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Wen
authors.forename: Xianwei
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Meng
authors.forename: Xiangling
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Ren
authors.forename: Jun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ren
authors.forename: Fangqiong
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Tang
mesh_terms: D053758:Nanoparticles / Q000737:chemistry / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D036103:Nanotechnology / Q000191:economics / Q000379:methods*; D013440:Sulfides / Q000737:chemistry*; D017967:Zinc Compounds / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D013440:Sulfides; D017967:Zinc Compounds; C031238:zinc sulfide