Amphiphilic self-assembly of semiconductor nanocrystals with heterogeneous compositions

Abstract

We describe herein that amphiphilic semiconductor nanocrystals (NCs) self-assembled into network structures with heterogeneous compositions. The semiconductor nanorods and tetrapods were subjected to ligand exchange with short-chained water-soluble thiolates, giving an amphiphilic surface pattern with a hydrophilic wall and hydrophobic tips. The amphiphilic NCs self-assembled through hydrophobic effects between tip-surfaces in water. The hydrophobic effect-facilitated self-assembly of NCs was well reproduced by a dissipative particle dynamics simulation. The amphiphilic self-assembly of NCs was demonstrated regardless of NC-shapes and compositions to give semiconductor NC-network structures with heterogeneous compositions. The tandem connection of luminescent core/shell nanorods demonstrated energy transfer between the nanorods in the self-assembly.