(590d) Electrostatic 'catalysis' of 'nano-Molecules'

While there has been significant progress in controlling the size, shape and properties of nanomaterials, their controlled assembly into nanostructures remains a significant challenge. As many researchers begin to look at the assortment of nanoparticles (NPs) around them as a new type of periodic table, the new standard of nanoscience is the manipulation of these NPs into structures with the same finesse that an organic chemist possess to manipulate atoms into molecules. Towards this end, we have used charged rod-like NPs, which act as a template, to effectively 'catalyze' the assembly of oppositely charged reactive NPs into 'nanomolecules'. At the crux of this system is the delicate interplay of electrostatic interactions which one can use to control the rates of reaction during the assembly process and selectively assemble different types of NPs. In this process, the rod-like particles are able to help mediate the strong electrostatic repulsions and enable the 'nano-reaction' to proceed. A mixture of experimental as well as theoretical results will be presented.