Reversible long-range patterning of gold nanoparticles by smectic liquid crystals

4.7 nm Gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) capped with mesogenic ligands, dispersed in homeotropically aligned smectic A liquid crystal (LC), reversibly form arrays of aggregates with micron-scale periodicities over macroscopic areas at the nematic to smectic A phase transition (T sub(N-SmA)). AuNPs with a m...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Soft matter 2012-06, Vol.8 (24), p.6593-6598
Main Authors: Milette, Jonathan, Relaix, Sabrina, Lavigne, Cyrille, Toader, Violeta, Cowling, Stephen J., Saez, Isabel M., Lennox, R. Bruce, Goodby, John W., Reven, Linda
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Arrays
Boundary conditions
Capping
Dispersion
Edge dislocations
Gold
Nanoparticles
Wedges
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Summary:4.7 nm Gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) capped with mesogenic ligands, dispersed in homeotropically aligned smectic A liquid crystal (LC), reversibly form arrays of aggregates with micron-scale periodicities over macroscopic areas at the nematic to smectic A phase transition (T sub(N-SmA)). AuNPs with a mixed capping layer of 4'-(n-mercaptododecyloxy)biphenyl-4-carbonitrile and hexanethiol in a 1 : 1 ratio were dispersed in 4'-octyl-4-cyanobiphenyl (8CB) and subjected to boundary conditions known to produce periodic edge dislocations. In a cavity cell with a meniscus, the arrays consisted of concentric circles. Linear arrays were produced by wedge cells and control over the periodicity was achieved through variation of the wedge angle. Based on the dependence of the geometry and periodicity of the arrays on boundary conditions, we propose that the AuNPs concentrate at edge dislocation defects of the smectic phase.
ISSN:1744-683X
1744-6848
DOI:10.1039/c2sm25445j