Colorimetric quantification of linking in thermoreversible nanocrystal gel assemblies.

ABSTRACT: Nanocrystal gels can be responsive, tunable materials, but designing their structure and properties is challenging. By using reversibly bonded molecular linkers, gelation can be realized under conditions predicted by thermodynamics. However, simulations have offered the only microscopic insights, with no experimental means to monitor linking leading to gelation. We introduce a metal coordination linkage with a distinct optical signature allowing us to quantify linking in situ and establish structural and thermodynamic bases for assembly. Because of coupling between linked indium tin oxide nanocrystals, their infrared absorption shifts abruptly at a chemically tunable gelation temperature. We quantify bonding spectroscopically and use molecular simulation to understand temperature-dependent

SUBMITTER: Kang J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8856611 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature