SELF-ASSEMBLED MONOLAYER OF NANOSIZED PARTICLES DIFFERING BY THEIR SIZES

Reverse micelles are used to control the size of silver sulfide particles. After these particles are coated with dodecanethiol, they are extracted from micelles and dispersed in heptane solution. The size of the particles is determined by transmission electron microscopy and small-angle X-ray scattering. On a solid support, a self organization of the nanosized particles in a hexagonal network is observed. The self assembly is obtained for various particle sizes (from 3 to 6 nm) and solid supports. The network takes place on a long-range domain which is usually larger than 5 x 10(5) nm(2). By leaving a solid support in the colloidal solution, multilayers of nanoparticles are observed, indicating that the self assembly is mainly due to Van der Waals and dispersion forces.