journal article·2025-08Open access

Structural Diversity in Hybrid Binary Superlattices Coassembled From Colloidal Nanocrystals and Submicrometer Colloids

Taoxueting Liu, Xuesong Wu, Mingxuan Bian, Ning Ding, Siyuan Liu, Zhebin Zhang, Yutong Gao, Siyu Wan, Dong Yang, Zhihong Nie, Tongtao Li, Angang Dong

Small· Volume 21· Issue 31

Abstract

Abstract Integrating nanocrystals (NCs) and submicrometer colloids, such as SiO 2 , to construct hybrid superlattices presents significant scientific and practical opportunities, yet their ordered coassembly is challenged by inherent colloidal incompatibility. Here, polystyrene (PS) ligands featuring six terminal amine groups are introduced, which facilitate robust hydrophobization of SiO 2 colloids through multivalent hydrogen bonding. The resulting PS‐grafted SiO 2 particles exhibit exceptional colloidal stability and compatibility with conventional hydrophobic NCs, enabling their ordered coassembly into hybrid binary superlattices with unprecedented structural diversity. In particular, hidden subsurface NCs are revealed at interstitial voids in multiple binary phases, highlighting structural complexities beyond those of conventional binary colloidal crystals. Furthermore, selective etching of SiO 2 colloids produces non‐close‐packed NC superlattices that are challenging to achieve through direct assembly. By addressing colloidal incompatibility through ligand design, this work paves the way for bridging nanoscale and submicroscale building blocks, facilitating the design of hybrid superlattices with wide applications in photonics, sensing, catalysis, and multifunctional metamaterials.
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Research context

OpenAlex topics: Pickering emulsions and particle stabilization · Quantum Dots Synthesis And Properties · Photonic Crystals and Applications

SciVX discovery tags are terminology-based. OpenAlex topics are source-provided classifications.

Affiliations

State Key Laboratory of Molecule Engineering of Polymers and Department of Macromolecular Science Fudan University Shanghai 200438 China

State Key Laboratory of Porous Materials for Separation and Conversion and Department of Chemistry Shanghai Key Laboratory of Molecular Catalysis and Innovative Materials and iChEM Fudan University Shanghai 200438 China

Funding

Fundamental Research Funds for Central Universities of the Central South University · National Natural Science Foundation of China · National Key Research and Development Program of China

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