Embrechts H, Zhang S, Hock R, Peukert W, Distaso M (2020)
Publication Language: English
Publication Status: Published
Publication Type: Journal article, Original article
Publication year: 2020
Publisher: American Chemical Society
Book Volume: 20
Pages Range: 1266-1275
Journal Issue: 2
Despite rapidly growing interest in the application of mesocrystals in catalysis, energy storage, and sensing, the understanding of mesocrystal formation mechanisms remains a relatively unexplored field, due to the time and space overlapping of different reaction steps, namely, the nucleation and growth of solid phase and, possibly, their self-assembly in 3D superstructures. In particular, the role of polymers used as templating matrices requires more in-depth investigation. Here, ZnO–PVP mesocrystals are used as a model system and their formation from molecular precursors is followed with simultaneous in situ dynamic light scattering (DLS) and turbidity measurements. The formation of 10 nm primary building blocks during the early stages of the synthesis and their subsequent oriented attachment into 200–1200 nm mesocrystalline superstructures are both directly observed with in situ DLS. The primary particle concentration at which oriented attachment (OA) begins to occur at an observable rate is proportional to the colloidal primary particle stability and is compared for different synthesis conditions with inline turbidity measurements. Synthesis with higher PVP concentrations and molecular weights results in increasingly sterically stabilized primary particles and the formation of larger ZnO–PVP mesospheres. The larger diameter of mesocrystals synthesized at higher PVP educt concentrations is attributed to partial screening of (electrostatic repulsive) interparticle interactions between mesocrystals and primary particles by attached surface PVP.
APA:
Embrechts, H., Zhang, S., Hock, R., Peukert, W., & Distaso, M. (2020). Observing Oriented Attachment during Mesocrystal Growth with in Situ Dynamic Light Scattering (DLS). Crystal Growth & Design, 20(2), 1266-1275. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.cgd.9b01523
MLA:
Embrechts, Heidemarie, et al. "Observing Oriented Attachment during Mesocrystal Growth with in Situ Dynamic Light Scattering (DLS)." Crystal Growth & Design 20.2 (2020): 1266-1275.
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