Nanocrystal “molecules” or “oligomers”:
precise-number assemblies of nanocrystals with well-defined geometrical arrangements.

IRG-4 self-assembles, models, and measures these plasmonic metal nanocrystal oligomers in order to tailor their optical properties.

The progression of the optical response with increasing oligomer size maps the evolution of the collective interactions within the structure.

Applications may include decorating surfaces with these assemblies to form “metasurfaces” having engineerable interaction with light.

Broader Impact

Stimulating STEM Interest at Philly Materials Day and NanoDay @ Penn

C.B. Murray & C.R. Kagan

Philly Materials Day: Nanocapsules
Participants made polymer droplets, illustrating how self-assembly can form functional nanostructures

NanoDay @ Penn: Shape Memory
Hands-on demonstration of “smart” shape-memory alloys exemplified how materials’ structure dictates materials’ properties

NanoDay @ Penn: Thin Films
Making thin films on a liquid interface showed participants how researchers self-assemble nanoscale optical films