Stabilizing in-transition phases of superlattices through shape control of silver nanocrystals
Abstract
In nanoscale assemblies, observations of structures in the transition pathways between high-symmetry lattices are rare because of the inherent instability of the intermediate phases. We report that silver nanocrystals with shapes similar to truncated octahedra (mecons) self-assemble into superlattices that are stable and resemble a previously unobserved phase that bridges face-centered and body-centered cubic structures along the Nishiyama-Wassermann martensitic pathway. These superlattices exhibited high structural purity and stability and created a robust and tunable dissymmetric phase landscape. Notably, light-matter coupling emerged in these silver nanocrystal superlattices through plasmon-photon hybridization at the quantum level.
Fields of Study & Subjects
Gold and Silver Nanoparticles Synthesis and Applications
Microstructure and mechanical properties
Quasicrystal Structures and Properties
Publication details
- Journal / source
- Science
- Publisher
- American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS)
- Volume
- 392
- Issue
- 6801
- Pages
- 951–957
- Publication date
- 28 May 2026
- Language
- EN