title: Synthesis and self-assembly of squarelike PbCrO4 nanoplatelets via micelle-mediated depletion attraction.
abstract: The self-assembly of nanoparticles triggered by attractive depletion forces presents a versatile pathway for building nanostructural superlattices directly in solution. In this work, the synthesis of squarelike lead chromate (PbCrO4) nanoplatelets is described, and their assembly into well-defined stacks by introducing various types of micelles as depletion agents is studied. The kinetics of the reversible assembly process in solution is probed by light scattering, and the depletion-induced self-assembly of the nanoplatelets is investigated by transmission electron microscopy. For nonionic surfactants, rodlike micelles are found to be more efficient at producing self-assembled particles than are spherelike micelles, in accordance with an increased depletion force. Adding ionic surfactants additionally leads to a segregation of PbCrO4 rod reaction byproducts.
authors.affiliation: Soft-Matter (ICS-3), Institute of Complex Systems, Forschungszentrum Jülich GmbH, Jülich, Germany.
authors.forename: Jing
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Peter R
authors.initials: PR
authors.lastname: Lang
authors.forename: Mathias
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Meyer
authors.forename: Jan K G
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Dhont