title: Steric hindrance induces crosslike self-assembly of gold nanodumbbells.
abstract: In the formation of colloidal molecules, directional interactions are crucial for controlling the spatial distribution of the building blocks. Anisotropic nanoparticles facilitate directional clustering via steric constraints imposed by each specific shape, thereby restricting assembly along certain directions. We show in this Letter that the combination of patchiness (attraction) and shape (steric hindrance) allows assembling gold nanodumbbell building blocks into crosslike dimers with well-controlled interparticle distance and relative orientation. Steric hindrance between interacting dumbbell-like particles opens up a new synthetic approach toward low-symmetry plasmonic clusters, which may significantly contribute to understand complex plasmonic phenomena.
authors: Departamento de Química Física, Universidade de Vigo, 36310 Vigo, Spain. marek@uvigo.es
authors: Marek
authors: M
authors: Grzelczak
authors: Ana
authors: A
authors: Sánchez-Iglesias
authors: Hamed Heidari
authors: HH
authors: Mezerji
authors: Sara
authors: S
authors: Bals
authors: Jorge
authors: J
authors: Pérez-Juste
authors: Luis M
authors: LM
authors: Liz-Marzán