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Monodisperse, spherical gold nanocrystals have been synthesized using an optimized synthesis method of Peng et al.[1] The as synthesized nanoparticles have been characterized using absorption spectroscopy and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The formation of the mesocrystals was carried out through the gentle destabilization of the nanoparticle solution, using a solvent/non-solvent pair, which resulted in the formation of extended structures demonstrating long-range order through controlled self-assembly. This leads to a wide range of highly ordered mesocrystals of a well-defined size and shape. Studies into the effects that concentration, temperature and solvent/non-solvent ratios impart to the resulting mesocrystal architectures will be presented. It will be shown that octahedral and five pointed stars may be formed under different combinations of the above parameters.
[1] S. Peng, Y. Lee, C. Wang, H. Yin, S. Dai, S. Sun, Nano Res 2008, 1(3), 229-234. |
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