Continuous phase transformation in nanocube assemblies.
The phase behavior of 3D assemblies of nanocubes in a ligand-rich solution upon solvent evaporation was experimentally investigated using small-angle x-ray scattering and electron microscopy. We observed a continuous transformation of assemblies between simple cubic and rhombohedral phases, where a variable angle of rhombohedral structure is determined by ligand thickness. We established a quantitative relationship between the particle shape evolution from cubes to quasispheres and the lattice distortion during the transformation, with a pathway exhibiting the highest known packing.
Center for Functional Nanomaterials, Brookhaven National Laboratory, Upton, New York 11973, USA.
Yugang
Y
Zhang
Fang
F
Lu
Daniel
D
van der Lelie
Oleg
O
Gang
D043942:Nanotubes / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D044367:Phase Transition; D053838:Scattering, Small Angle; D012997:Solvents / Q000737:chemistry*; D014961:X-Ray Diffraction
D012997:Solvents