title: In situ visualization of self-assembly of charged gold nanoparticles.
abstract: Self-assembly of Au nanoparticles (NPs) coated with positively charged cetyltrimethylammonium ions (CTA(+)) and negatively charged citrate ions in aqueous liquid cell was investigated by in situ transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Under electron illumination in TEM, the hydrated electrons will reduce the overall positive charges of the CTA(+) covered Au NPs and decrease the repulsive electrostatic forces among NPs, leading to assembly of individual NPs into one-dimensional structures. On the contrary, the negatively charged Au NPs coated with citrate ions are steady in liquid cell regardless of electron beam intensity.
authors: Center for Nanoscale Materials, Argonne National Laboratory, 9700 South Cass Avenue, Argonne, Illinios 60439, USA. yuziliu@anl.gov
authors: Yuzi
authors: Y
authors: Liu
authors: Xiao-Min
authors: XM
authors: Lin
authors: Yugang
authors: Y
authors: Sun
authors: Tijana
authors: T
authors: Rajh
mesh_terms: D002593:Cetrimonium Compounds / Q000737:chemistry; D006046:Gold / Q000737:chemistry*; D053768:Metal Nanoparticles / Q000737:chemistry*; D010316:Particle Size; D013499:Surface Properties
chemical_list: D002593:Cetrimonium Compounds; D006046:Gold