Posted in | News | Nanoanalysis

Enhancing Cohesion in Supercrystalline Nanocomposites

The lack of knowledge of the self-assembly process and the poor structural stability of the resultant super crystal structures continue to restrict the use of nanocrystals in manufactured materials and devices.

Enhancing Cohesion in Supercrystalline Nanocomposites

Study: Strengthening Engineered Nanocrystal Three-Dimensional Superlattices via Ligand Conformation and Reactivity. Image Credit: Plunkett, A., Kampferbeck, M., Bor, B., Sazama, U., Krekeler, T., & Bekaert, L. (2022).

In a paper published in the journal ACS Nano, the effect of ligands on superlattice development and crosslinking by the annealing process was investigated. It was shown how the discovered mechanical knowledge might be exploited to modify the mechanical and nanostructural characteristics of the resulting nanoparticles.

Mesostructure Collective Phenomena

The regular organization of nano building blocks into unique structures, evocative of atoms in a crystal lattice, enables the mesostructure collection phenomenon to emerge while preserving the fundamental size-dependent features of nanocrystals (NC). The collective phenomenon may be considerably adjusted and improved by modifying the building-block materials, size, form, or assembly circumstances.

The possibilities are limitless, with anticipated applications spanning from mechanics and ophthalmology to electronics, to mention a few. Nevertheless, the deficiency of structural stability of these nanoarchitecture components, particularly as the size of the material is resampled, still hinders their growth into materials or further application into device applications.

Nature has suggested a possible solution to this problem. By hierarchically organizing nano building blocks with narrow, delicate interphases, nature has produced solid, durable, and durable materials such as bones, teeth, and nacre.

When nanocrystals are surface-functionalized with organic ligands and then organized into periodic structures, constrained interface organic ligands may be crosslinked to improve the resilience of super crystalline (SC) components.

Surface Ligands and their Advantages

It has been demonstrated that heating self-assembled organo-functionalized nanocrystals at mild temperatures increase a material's strength, rigidity, and flexibility while preserving a high level of tensile properties and performance.

Surface ligands, in particular, are beneficial for better material cohesiveness and fine-tuned superlattice creation and the final material's functioning and uses.

The interparticle spacing between nearby nanocrystals is one crucial characteristic that may be controlled by the ligands, where tiny changes can drastically impact the super crystalline aggregation characteristics and affect their photonic, conducting, or magnetic behavior.

Importance of Ligands

The influence of various ligands was explored on evaporating self-assembly using monodisperse magnetite nanocrystal centers with varying surface modifications. It was also illustrated how important it is to know the responsiveness of every NC@ligand combination when using them as crosslinking substrates.

Three surface ligands were investigated and chosen based on two factors: their aliphatic sequence and attachment group to the surface of the nanocrystals. After investigating the impact of each ligand component on the nanoarchitecture, a thermally induced reinforcing method was used through ligand crosslinking.

The ligands' behavior following rising temperatures is a vital step in not only enhancing material reliability through crosslinking and avoiding feature loss due to full organic dissolution. However, the precise process of this phase and its impacts on the ligand casing is still unknown.

The crosslinking process is dependent not only on the responsiveness of the particular ligands but also on their attachment to the nanocrystal center, which performs a catalytic function.

Understanding the function of ligands in superlattice generation and activation provides authority to intelligently adjust the physical properties of the resulting three-dimensional (3D) super crystalline components, which is a key step towards connecting the molecular and macroscopic length scales in super crystalline materials.

Highlights of the Study

Assessing the current mechanisms during nanocrystal self-assembly and super crystalline material responsiveness was critical not only for tailoring the characteristics of the final materials but also for identifying new appropriate material frameworks for designing novel, useful nanocomposite materials.

The influence of diverse surface ligands on supercrystalline formation and subsequent enhancement by thermal crosslinking was explored in hybrid conjunction nanocrystals frameworks. The usage of ligands with the same amount of C atoms and grafting concentration resulted in functionalized Fe3O4 spherical NCs with identical FCC concrete structures.

The inclusion of an aromatic unsaturation did not affect the super crystalline phases. All of the resultant inter particulate lengths were less than the length of two (extended) ligand molecules, indicating that the interacting ligands were interdigitated or twisted.

Main Outcomes of the Research

Here, the hardening was accomplished using a crosslinking-based rapid oxidative polymerization catalyzed by the nanocrystal’s base material. The attachment group of the ligands to the nanocrystal interface had a considerable effect on the central catalytic properties and, consequently, the degree of crosslinking.

Furthermore, the crosslinking phase could be modified by identifying the oxidative mechanisms that regulated the crosslinking process. Adopting an oxygen-rich environment required much lower temperatures for the crosslinking process, potentially preventing temperature-induced nanostructural harm to the nanoarchitectures.

The mechanical characteristics and interparticle spacing of the generated supercrystalline nanostructures were tailored separately by altering the heating rate and environment.

This finally allowed for tuning the mesostructured collective characteristics of functional nanomaterials while preserving strong mechanical responsiveness, both of which are critical stages towards their implementation.

Reference

Plunkett, A., Kampferbeck, M., Bor, B., Sazama, U., Krekeler, T., & Bekaert, L. (2022). Strengthening Engineered Nanocrystal ThreeDimensional Superlattices via Ligand Conformation and Reactivity. ACS Nano. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1021/acsnano.2c01332

Disclaimer: The views expressed here are those of the author expressed in their private capacity and do not necessarily represent the views of AZoM.com Limited T/A AZoNetwork the owner and operator of this website. This disclaimer forms part of the Terms and conditions of use of this website.

Shaheer Rehan

Written by

Shaheer Rehan

Shaheer is a graduate of Aerospace Engineering from the Institute of Space Technology, Islamabad. He has carried out research on a wide range of subjects including Aerospace Instruments and Sensors, Computational Dynamics, Aerospace Structures and Materials, Optimization Techniques, Robotics, and Clean Energy. He has been working as a freelance consultant in Aerospace Engineering for the past year. Technical Writing has always been a strong suit of Shaheer's. He has excelled at whatever he has attempted, from winning accolades on the international stage in match competitions to winning local writing competitions. Shaheer loves cars. From following Formula 1 and reading up on automotive journalism to racing in go-karts himself, his life revolves around cars. He is passionate about his sports and makes sure to always spare time for them. Squash, football, cricket, tennis, and racing are the hobbies he loves to spend his time in.

Citations

Please use one of the following formats to cite this article in your essay, paper or report:

  • APA

    Rehan, Shaheer. (2022, June 29). Enhancing Cohesion in Supercrystalline Nanocomposites. AZoNano. Retrieved on October 03, 2024 from https://www.azonano.com/news.aspx?newsID=39340.

  • MLA

    Rehan, Shaheer. "Enhancing Cohesion in Supercrystalline Nanocomposites". AZoNano. 03 October 2024. <https://www.azonano.com/news.aspx?newsID=39340>.

  • Chicago

    Rehan, Shaheer. "Enhancing Cohesion in Supercrystalline Nanocomposites". AZoNano. https://www.azonano.com/news.aspx?newsID=39340. (accessed October 03, 2024).

  • Harvard

    Rehan, Shaheer. 2022. Enhancing Cohesion in Supercrystalline Nanocomposites. AZoNano, viewed 03 October 2024, https://www.azonano.com/news.aspx?newsID=39340.

Tell Us What You Think

Do you have a review, update or anything you would like to add to this news story?

Leave your feedback
Your comment type
Submit

While we only use edited and approved content for Azthena answers, it may on occasions provide incorrect responses. Please confirm any data provided with the related suppliers or authors. We do not provide medical advice, if you search for medical information you must always consult a medical professional before acting on any information provided.

Your questions, but not your email details will be shared with OpenAI and retained for 30 days in accordance with their privacy principles.

Please do not ask questions that use sensitive or confidential information.

Read the full Terms & Conditions.