Modulating Orientational Order to Organize Polyhedral Nanoparticles into Plastic Crystals and Uniform Metacrystals
Yih Hong Lee, Wenxiong Shi, Yijie Yang, Ya‐Chuan Kao, Hiang Kwee Lee, Rongrong Chu, Yee Ling Pang, Chee Leng Lay, Shuzhou Li, Xing Yi Ling
Abstract
In nanoparticle self-assembly, the current lack of strategy to modulate orientational order creates challenges in isolating large-area plastic crystals. Here, we achieve two orientationally distinct supercrystals using one nanoparticle shape, including plastic crystals and uniform metacrystals. Our approach integrates multi-faceted Archimedean polyhedra with molecular-level surface polymeric interactions to tune nanoparticle orientational order during self-assembly. Experiments and simulations show that coiled surface polymer chains limit interparticle interactions, creating various geometrical configurations among Archimedean polyhedra to form plastic crystals. In contrast, brush-like polymer chains enable molecular interdigitation between neighboring particles, favoring consistent particle configurations and result in uniform metacrystals. Our strategy enhances supercrystal diversity for polyhedra comprising multiple nondegenerate facets.