Assemblies and Superstructures of Inorganic Colloidal Nanocrystals

Abstract

Inorganic colloidal nanoparticles (NPs) possess the ability to self-assemble into complex hierarchical structures with unique properties that are different from their individual counterparts. The assembly of particles into compact 2D and 3D structures occurs only when they have a narrow size distribution and uniform shape. In this chapter, we review how various types of forces and fundamental interactions at the nanoscale govern the assembly of colloidal nanocrystals, the available methods for assembling colloidal nanocrystals with discrete geometries and the application of such assembled structures in various fields ranging from catalysis, biological diagnosis, plasmonics and electronics.