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Self‐Assembled Magnetite Mesocrystalline Films: Toward Structural Evolution from 2D to 3D Superlattices
Author(s) -
Brunner J.,
Baburin I. A.,
Sturm S.,
Kvashnina K.,
Rossberg A.,
Pietsch T.,
Andreev S.,
Sturm née Rosseeva E.,
Cölfen H.
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
advanced materials interfaces
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.671
H-Index - 65
ISSN - 2196-7350
DOI - 10.1002/admi.201600431
Subject(s) - superlattice , magnetite , materials science , superstructure , nanocrystal , nanoparticle , crystallography , substrate (aquarium) , nanotechnology , chemical physics , condensed matter physics , chemical engineering , metallurgy , thermodynamics , optoelectronics , chemistry , physics , oceanography , geology , engineering
This study describes synthesis and detailed characterization of 2D and 3D mesocrystalline films produced by self‐assembly of iron oxide (magnetite) truncated nanocubes. The orientational relations between nanocrystals within the superlattice are examined and atomistic models are introduced. In the 2D case, two distinct superstructures (i.e., translational order) of magnetite nanocubes can be observed with p 4 mm and c 2 mm layer symmetries while maintaining the same orientational order (with [100] magnetite perpendicular to the substrate). The 3D structure can be approximated by a slightly distorted face‐centered cubic (fcc) superlattice. The most efficient space filling within the 3D superstructure is achieved by changing the orientational order of the nanoparticles and following the “bump‐to‐hollow” packing principle. Namely orientational order is determined by the shape of the nanoparticles with the following orientational relations: [001] SL ||[310] magnetite , [001] SL ||[301] magnetite , [001] SL ||[100] magnetite . Overall the presented data provide a fundamental understanding of a mesocrystal formation mechanism and their structural evolution. Structure, composition, and magnetic properties of the synthesised nanoparticles are also characterized.