Self-Assembled Ag-MXA Superclusters with Structure-Dependent Mechanical Properties

Xiaoyun Qin; Dan Luo; Zhenjie Xue; Qian Song; Tie Wang

doi:10.1002/adma.201706327

Self-Assembled Ag-MXA Superclusters with Structure-Dependent Mechanical Properties

Adv Mater. 2018 Mar;30(9). doi: 10.1002/adma.201706327. Epub 2018 Jan 15.

Authors

Xiaoyun Qin^{1

2}, Dan Luo^{1

2

3}, Zhenjie Xue^{1

2}, Qian Song^{1

2}, Tie Wang^{1

2}

Affiliations

¹ Beijing National Laboratory for Molecular Sciences, Key Laboratory of Analytical Chemistry for Living Biosystems, Institute of Chemistry, The Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100190, P. R. China.
² University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, P. R. China.
³ State Key Laboratory of Heavy Oil Processing, Institute of New Energy, China University of Petroleum (Beijing), Beijing, 102249, P. R. China.

PMID: 29334146
DOI: 10.1002/adma.201706327

Abstract

The low elastic modulus and time-consuming formation process represent the major challenges that impede the penetration of nanoparticle superstructures into daily life applications. As observed in the molecular or atomic crystals, more effective interactions between adjacent nanoparticles would introduce beneficial features to assemblies enabling optimized mechanical properties. Here, a straightforward synthetic strategy is showed that allows fast and scalable fabrication of 2D Ag-mercaptoalkyl acid superclusters of either hexagonal or lamellar topology. Remarkably, these ordered superstructures exhibit a structure-dependent elastic modulus which is subject to the tether length of straight-chain mercaptoalkyl acids or the ratio between silver and tether molecules. These superclusters are plastic and moldable against arbitrarily shaped masters of macroscopic dimensions, thereby opening a wealth of possibilities to develop more nanocrystals with practically useful nanoscopic properties.

Keywords: mechanical properties; self-assembly; structure-dependent; superclusters.