Branched wires of CdTe nanocrystals using amphiphilic molecules as templates

The preparation of branched wires comprised of luminescent CdTe nanocrystals (NC) by Langmuir-monolayer-guided self-assembly using C12-(L)Cys-(L)Cys-C18 molecular aggregates as templates was analyzed. This process exemplifies the ability of NCs to self-organize into a superstructure due to intrinsic anisotropy of inter-nanocrystal interactions. Due to the availability of SH groups in the hydrophilic heads of the C12-(L)Cys-(L)Cys-C18 molecule, it was anticipated that possibility of using molecular aggregates as templates to assemble NCs into wires. The separated rigid wires of approximate 10 nm in width and up to 2 μm in length was observed at low surface pressure. The use of self-patterned molecular aggregates as templates for interfacial assembly can provide general method to organize metal or semiconductor NCs in a pre-designed way. The results show that the formation of rigid, single wires at higher surface density is presumed to be caused by cooperative molecule-to-molecule.