Self-assembly of cerium oxide nanostructures in ice molds

    Authors

    A. S. Karakoti; Svnt Kuchibhatla; D. R. Baer; S. Thevuthasan; D. C. Sayle;S. Seal

    Comments

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    Abbreviated Journal Title

    Small

    Keywords

    cerium oxide; ice; nanorods; self-assembly; templates; NANOPARTICLES; SHAPE; SOLIDIFICATION; NANOCRYSTALS; ORIENTATION; ATTACHMENT; NANOWIRES; NANORODS; WATER; Chemistry, Multidisciplinary; Chemistry, Physical; Nanoscience &; Nanotechnology; Materials Science, Multidisciplinary; Physics, Applied; Physics, Condensed Matter

    Abstract

    The formation of nanorods driven by the physicochemical phenomena, during the freezing and after the aging of frozen ceria nanoparticle suspensions, is reported. During freezing of a dilute aqueous solution of CeO2 nanocrystals, some nuclei remain in solution while others are trapped inside micro- and nanometer voids formed within the growing ice front. Over time (2-3 weeks) the particles trapped within the nanometer-wide voids in the ice combine by an oriented attachment process to form ceria nanorods. The experimental observations are consistent with molecular dynamics simulations of particle aggregation in constrained environments. These observations suggest a possible strategy for the templated formation of nanostructures through self-assembly by exploiting natural phenomena, such as voids formed during freezing of water. This research suggests a very simple,, green chemical route to guide the formation of one- and three-dimensional self-assembled nanostructures.

    Journal Title

    Small

    Volume

    4

    Issue/Number

    8

    Publication Date

    1-1-2008

    Document Type

    Article

    Language

    English

    First Page

    1210

    Last Page

    1216

    WOS Identifier

    WOS:000258566400031

    ISSN

    1613-6810

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