Themed collection Colloidal Self- Assembled Supracrystals and Heterostructures

Welcome to this CrystEngComm themed collection on self-assembled supracrystals and hetero-structures made from colloidal nanocrystals.

Metal nanoparticles functionalized with self-assembled monolayers of ligands terminated in charged groups constitute a unique class of nanoscopic polyions – or “nanoions” in short – capable of assembling into higher-order structures.

In this work the oriented attachment and mesocrystal formation via non-classical pathways have been reviewed with particular emphasis being placed on their self-assembly mechanisms as well as the new collective properties of the resulting crystalline nanoparticular arrangements and their potential uses in applications.

Advances in the synthesis of copper sulphide containing nanostructures and the underlying reaction mechanisms are summarized.

Various mechanisms of formation of semiconductor-based colloidal heterostructured nanocrystals have been highlighted.

Co-assembly of differently sized and shaped nanoparticles within a polymer matrix can be controlled to form unique nanoparticle heterojunctions.

The synthesis, shape evolution and large-scale self-assembly of p-type Cu₇Te₅ single-crystalline nanocuboids have been studied in this communication.

The L1₀-FePt film has been fabricated via layer-by-layer assembly under an external magnetic field and exhibits significant perpendicular magnetic anisotropy.

A generic method for the preparation of polymer-coated plasmonic nanostructures with tunable thickness of the hydrophobic polymer spacer.

The mechanism underlying the formation of nanoparticle assembly was elucidated by a GISAXS/GIWAXS study.

Chalcopyrite copper indium disulfide (CIS) QDs have been of recent interest due to their non-toxicity. This article shows a straightforward aqueous cation exchange method to synthesise CIS particles with zinc sulfide coating.

Edge growth of rhodium and ruthenium–rhodium metals on highly faceted Cu₂S semiconductor seeds yields a family of nano-inorganic caged hybrid nanoparticles.

In this article we outline the assembly of binary, ternary and quaternary nanorods using three separate protocols: (a) droplet based assembly, (b) assembly in a vial, (c) electrophoretic deposition. The rods are the important photoabsorbers CdS, CdSe_xS_1−x, CuIn_xGa_1−xS, and Cu₂ZnSnS₄.

What are the right conditions to form PtCu alloy NPs? A study of the formation mechanism.

High quality Ag₂S–CdS heteronanostructures were prepared via a facile one-pot method.

Activation of CdSe@CdS nanorods by a platinum deposition reaction enables selective deposition of a single dipolar cobalt nanoparticle tip per nanorod.

Controlled overgrowth of Pd on Au nanorods allows one to fine-tune the particle geometries and optical properties of bimetallic heteronanostructures.

Reversible self-assembly of M_xS (M = Cu, Ag) nanocrystals in solution is achieved through ligand exchange.