The development of nanomaterials for next generation photonic, optoelectronic, and catalytic applications requires a robust synthetic toolkit for systematically tuning composition, phase, and morphology at nanometer length scales. While de novo synthetic methods for preparing nanomaterials from molecular precursors have advanced considerably in recent years, cation exchange reactions, in which cations ligated within a nanocrystal host lattice are substituted with those in solution, have emerged as particularly powerful tools for fine-grained control over nanocrystal composition and phase. However, accurate quantitative understanding of the thermodynamics of cation exchange reactions in colloidal nanocrystals is lacking. Here, we present thermochemical studies of nanostructuring and specific ligation effects on nanoscale cation exchange reactions as measured by isothermal titration calorimetry. Our results serve as a step towards enabling the rational design of nanocrystal ion exchanges spanning the periodic table.

Thermochemical measurements of cation exchange reactions in colloidal nanocrystals

247th National Meeting (2014)

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