Emergence and inversion of chirality in hierarchical assemblies of CdS nanocrystal fibers.

ABSTRACT: Arranging semiconducting nanocrystals into ordered superstructures is a promising platform to study fundamental light-matter interactions and develop programmable optical metamaterials. We investigated how the geometrical arrangement of CdS nanocrystals in hierarchical assemblies affects chiroptical properties. To create these structures, we controlled the evaporation of a colloidal CdS nanocrystal solution between two parallel plates. We combined in situ microscopy and computational modeling to establish a formation mechanism involving the shear-induced alignment of nanocrystal fibers and the subsequent mechanical relaxation of the stretched fibers to form Raman noodle-type band textures. The high linear anisotropy in these films shares many similarities with cholesteric liquid crystals.

SUBMITTER: Gonzalez AV 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10631732 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature