Surface chemistry plays an enormous role in inorganic nanoscale particles, as the fraction of surface atoms can approach unity and ligand coordination becomes the dominant energetic contribution to the system. However, a lack of understanding of ligand coordination in nanoscale particles and challenges in characterizing the metal-ligand interface have prevented the full implementation of these systems. Here, we leverage ex-situ and in-situ transmission electron microscopy techniques to spatially map the binding of organic ligands to metal surfaces. We show the ability to track single molecule binding events on immobilized nanoparticle templates to reveal ligand binding preferences for certain inorganic crystal facets. Leveraging these findings allows for the synthesis of novel nanomaterials, including clusters and particles, with surface ligands that undergo rapid and dynamic exchange with molecules in solution. These structures show unusual mechanical properties that can be modulated by the coordinating strength of surface ligands. This nanoparticle-based mechanochemical response is hypothesized to arise via changes to the elastic properties of surface atoms as a consequence of ligand binding. These results show that exotic nanomaterials with novel properties are accessible with greater fundamental understanding and control over nanoscale surface chemistry.<br/>

Exotic properties and novel nanomaterials enabled by surface chemistry

Macromolecular Chemistry: The Second Century

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ACS Spring 2020 National Meeting & Expo

The official archive and repository for all ACS Meetings & Expositions abstracts and select posters or presentations.