Heterogeneous local order in self-assembled nanoparticle films revealed by X-ray cross-correlations.

ABSTRACT: We report on the self-assembly of gold nanoparticles coated with a soft poly(ethylene glycol) shell studied by X-ray cross-correlation analysis. Depending on the initial concentration of gold nanoparticles used, structurally heterogeneous films were formed. The films feature hot spots of dominating four- and sixfold local order with patch sizes of a few micrometres, containing 10⁴-10⁵ particles. The amplitude of the order parameters suggested that a minimum sample amount was necessary to form well ordered local structures. Furthermore, the increasing variation in order parameters with sample thickness demonstrated a high degree of structural heterogeneity. This wealth of information cannot be obtained by the conventional microscopy techniques that are commonly used to

SUBMITTER: Lehmkuhler F 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5929381 | biostudies-literature | 2018 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature