Superlattices represent a unique class of materials with periodically ordered structures that can exhibit a wide range of functional properties, including dielectric, optical, magneto-optical, electrical, mechanical, and gas-sensing characteristics. In the field of nanoscale self-assembly, the formation of superlattices from nanocrystal building blocks has been extensively studied both experimentally and theoretically over the past several decades.

Supercrystals are ordered assemblies of nanocrystals arranged in two- or three-dimensional arrays, forming superlattices with periodicity defined by the spatial arrangement and chemical composition of the nanoscale building blocks. These structures are typically produced by assembling high-quality nanocrystals synthesized through wet-chemical methods.

While early studies focused primarily on spherical nanocrystals, replacing them with non-spherical nanocrystal building blocks introduces additional degrees of freedom in the assembly process. The anisotropic shapes and orientations of these nanocrystals can lead to unique packing geometries and altered packing densities compared with conventional sphere-based assemblies. As a result, the resulting superstructures may exhibit not only size- and shape-dependent properties of the individual nanocrystals but also emergent collective behaviors arising from optical, magnetic, and electronic interactions among the anisotropic building blocks.

Understanding and controlling the self-assembly of such nanocrystal superlattices can enable the rational design of materials with tailored nano-architectures for advanced applications, including next-generation electronic, optical, and quantum materials. Our research explores superlattice assemblies composed of various non-spherical nanocrystal systems, including In₂O₃, PbS, PbSe, PbTe, Pt₃Ni, Pt₃Cu₂, and Pt, with the goal of understanding their assembly mechanisms, structural ordering, and resulting functional properties.

Further reading materials:

NanoToday, 5(5) 390 - 411 (2010).

Chem. Asian. J., 6(5) 1126 - 1136 (2011).

Acc. Chem. Res., 46(2) 191 - 202 (2013).

Nano Res., 8(8) 2445 - 2466 (2015).

J. Am. Chem. Soc., 136(4) 1352 - 1359 (2014).

Nano Lett., 12(8) 4409 - 4413 (2012).

J. Am. Chem. Soc., 130(22) 6983 - 6991 (2008).

J. Am. Chem. Soc., 134(34) 14043 -14049 (2012).

Nano Lett., 11(7) 2912 - 2918 (2011).

Nano Lett., 17(1) 362 - 367 (2017).

J. Am. Chem. Soc., 146(12) 8598 - 8606 (2024).