1 research outputs found
Assembly of Ligand-Stripped Nanocrystals into Precisely Controlled Mesoporous Architectures
The properties of mesoporous materials hinge on control
of their
composition, pore dimensions, wall thickness, and the size and shape
of the crystallite building units. We create ordered mesoporous materials
in which all of these parameters are independently controlled. Different
sizes (from 4.5 to 8 nm) and shapes (spheres and rods) of ligand-stripped
nanocrystals are assembled using the same structure-directing block
copolymers, which contain a tethering domain designed to adsorb to
their naked surfaces. Material compositions range from metal oxides
(Sn-doped In<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub> or ITO, CeO<sub>2</sub>, TiO<sub>2</sub>) to metal fluorides (Yb,Er-doped NaYF<sub>4</sub>) and metals
(FePt). The incorporation of new types of nanocrystals into mesoporous
architectures can lead to enhanced performance. For example, TiO<sub>2</sub> nanorod-based materials withstand >1000 electrochemical
cycles
without significant degradation