Anisotropic surface potentials induced by competitive ion adsorption enable the synthesis of branched cubic Pt mesocrystals.
basic_science · Level V
Where this comes from
- Record sourced from PubMed, PMID 41193481.
- Also identified by DOI 10.1038/s41467-025-64494-9 and PMC identifier 12589459.
- Licence recorded as CC BY.
- The licence permits redistribution, so the abstract is shown in full and the full text is available from the publisher.
Abstract
Creation of complex nanostructured materials through oriented attachment (OA) requires the manipulation of interparticle forces, including electrostatic repulsion, which depends strongly on surface potentials and can be modified through the effect of solution environment on interfacial chemistry. Here we show that time-dependent anisotropies in surface potential driven by competitive ion adsorption can alter facet-selectivity during OA. This phenomenon enables the synthesis of branched cubic Pt mesocrystals. Initially, Pt nanoparticles attach preferentially at their {100} facets to form a well-defined cubic core. Over time, changes in ion adsorption shift the attachment preference to the {111} facets, promoting branch formation. In both stages, anisotropic surface potentials generate electrostatic torques that align the particles prior to attachment. These findings demonstrate a generalizable strategy for directing the architecture of nanomaterials through time-resolved control of interfacial chemistry during OA, offering new pathways for the design of complex mesoscale structures.