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Bulk Synthesis and Surface Patterning of Nanoporous Metals and Alloys from Supraspherical Nanoparticle Aggregates†

  1. Rafal Klajn1,
  2. Timothy P. Gray2,
  3. Paul J. Wesson1,
  4. Benjamin D. Myers3,
  5. Vinayak P. Dravid3,
  6. Stoyan K. Smoukov1,
  7. Bartosz A. Grzybowski1,2,*

Article first published online: 1 SEP 2008

DOI: 10.1002/adfm.200800293

Issue

Advanced Functional Materials

Advanced Functional Materials

Volume 18, Issue 18, pages 2763–2769, September 23, 2008

Additional Information

How to Cite

Klajn, R., Gray, T. P., Wesson, P. J., Myers, B. D., Dravid, V. P., Smoukov, S. K. and Grzybowski, B. A. (2008), Bulk Synthesis and Surface Patterning of Nanoporous Metals and Alloys from Supraspherical Nanoparticle Aggregates. Advanced Functional Materials, 18: 2763–2769. doi: 10.1002/adfm.200800293

Author Information

  1. 1

    Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL 60208 (USA)

  2. 2

    Department of Chemistry, Northwestern University Evanston, IL 60208 (USA)

  3. 3

    Department of Materials Science and Engineering and NUANCE Center, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL 60208 (USA)

*Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL 60208 (USA).

  1. †

    This work was supported by the Camille Dreyfus Teacher-Scholar Award and by the Sloan Fellowship to B. A. G. R. K. was supported by NSF under the Northwestern MRSEC. We thank Karen Mulfort (Department of Chemistry, Northwestern University) for performing the BET experiments.

Publication History

  1. Issue published online: 16 SEP 2008
  2. Article first published online: 1 SEP 2008
  3. Manuscript Received: 29 FEB 2008

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Keywords:

  • alloys;
  • nanoparticles;
  • nanostructures;
  • porous metals;
  • surface patterning

Graphical Abstract

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Supraspheres composed of hundreds to thousands of metal nanoparticles adhere to one another and assemble into extended networks of microscopic dimensions. Upon heating and removal of coating organics, the nanoparticles comprising these structures coalesce and gradually transform into nanoporous metals. By adjusting the compositions and sizes of the supraspheres, it is possible to prepare mono- and multicomponent materials with controlled porosity and surface area.

Abstract

Supraspheres (SS) composed of hundreds to thousands of metal nanoparticles (NPs) and crosslinked by dithiol linkers are assembled into larger structures, which are subsequently converted into nanoporous metals (NMs). Conversion is achieved by heating which removes organic molecules stabilizing the NPs and allows for NP fusion. Heating of SS solutions leads to NMs of overall macroscopic dimensions; localized radiation using collimated electron beam is used to prepare metallized surface micropatterns. Depending on the composition of supraspherical precursors, nanoporous materials composed of up to three metals can be obtained. Strategies for controlling pore size and nanoscale surface roughness of these materials are discussed.

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