Structure/processing relationships of highly ordered lead salt nanocrystal superlattices

ACS Nano. 2009 Oct 27;3(10):2975-88. doi: 10.1021/nn901008r.

Abstract

We investigated the influence of processing conditions, nanocrystal/substrate interactions and solvent evaporation rate on the ordering of strongly interacting nanocrystals by synergistically combining electron microscopy and synchrotron-based small-angle X-ray scattering analysis. Spin-cast PbSe nanocrystal films exhibited submicrometer-sized supracrystals with face-centered cubic symmetry and (001)(s) planes aligned parallel to the substrate. The ordering of drop-cast lead salt nanocrystal films was sensitive to the nature of the substrate and solvent evaporation dynamics. Nanocrystal films drop-cast on rough indium tin oxide substrates were polycrystalline with small grain size and low degree of orientation with respect to the substrate, whereas films drop-cast on flat Si substrates formed highly ordered face-centered cubic supracrystals with close-packed (111)(s) planes parallel to the substrate. The spatial coherence of nanocrystal films drop-cast in the presence of saturated solvent vapor was significantly improved compared to films drop-cast in a dry environment. Solvent vapor annealing was demonstrated as a postdeposition technique to modify the ordering of nanocrystals in the thin film. Octane vapor significantly improved the long-range order and degree of orientation of initially disordered or polycrystalline nanocrystal assemblies. Exposure to 1,2-ethanedithiol vapor caused partial displacement of surface bound oleic acid ligands and drastically degraded the degree of order in the nanocrystal assembly.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Diffusion
  • Lead / chemistry*
  • Microscopy, Electron, Scanning
  • Microscopy, Electron, Transmission
  • Nanoparticles / chemistry*
  • Salts / chemistry*
  • Scattering, Small Angle
  • Selenium Compounds / chemistry
  • Solvents / chemistry
  • Sulfides / chemistry
  • Time Factors
  • Volatilization
  • X-Ray Diffraction

Substances

  • Salts
  • Selenium Compounds
  • Solvents
  • Sulfides
  • lead selenide
  • lead sulfide
  • Lead