The correlation between the size of nanoparticles, the structure and shape of mesogenic ligands and the ensuing assembly behaviour is not really understood. Closer inspection shows very surprising features. Here, 2- and 4-nm gold nanoparticles (NPs) were synthesized, and grafted with a forked ligand containing two r...

https://chemistry-europe.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1002/chem.202203673

We report the formation of a 3D body-centred self-assembled superlattice of gold nanoparticles whose interparticle gap, and hence its plasmonic properties, are adjustable exclusively in the xy-plane. Thus, even though the particles are spherical, their anisotropic packing generates tailorable plasmonic dichroism. Th...

https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1002/asia.202200057