Autocatalytic Nucleation and Self-Assembly of Inorganic Nanoparticles into Complex Biosimilar Networks.

ABSTRACT: Self-replication of bioorganic molecules and oil microdroplets have been explored as models in prebiotic chemistry. An analogous process for inorganic nanomaterials would involve the autocatalytic nucleation of metal, semiconductor, or ceramic nanoparticles-an area that remains largely uncharted. Demonstrating such systems would be both fundamentally intriguing and practically relevant, especially if the resulting particles self-assemble into complex structures beyond the capabilities of molecules or droplets. Here, we show that autocatalytic nucleation occurs with silver nanoparticles, which subsequently self-assemble into chains through spatially restricted attachment. In dispersions containing "hedgehog" particles, these reactions produce complex colloids with hierarchical spike organiz

SUBMITTER: McGlothin CN 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11848952 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature