Open access
Date
2021-05Type
- Review Article
Abstract
Colloidal nanocrystals are the ideal building blocks for the fabrication of functional materials. Using various assembly, patterning or processing techniques, the nanocrystals can be arranged with unprecedented flexibility in 1-, 2- or 3-dimensional architectures over several orders of length scales, providing access to ordered or disordered, porous or non-porous, and simple as well as hierarchical structures. Careful selection of colloidal nanocrystals allows the properties of the final materials to be predefined. Moreover, by combining different nano-crystals, these properties can be fine-tuned for a specific application, opening up fascinating opportunities to create new materials for energy storage and conversion, catalysis, photocatalysis, biomedicine or optics. Indeed, functional materials made of preformed nanoparticles have been realized for metals, polymers, semiconductors, and ceramics, as well as for composites and organic-inorganic hybrids. In this review article, we introduce some concepts for the fabrication of colloidal nanocrystals and their assembly into dense and porous 3-dimensional structures. Porosity is a particularly important material property that strongly influences its application potential. Therefore, we pay special attention to this aspect and compare porous materials synthesized from nanoparticles with those from molecular routes. An additional focus is set on the degree of structural order that can be achieved on different length scales. Show more
Permanent link
https://doi.org/10.3929/ethz-b-000486854Publication status
publishedExternal links
Journal / series
ChimiaVolume
Pages / Article No.
Publisher
Swiss Chemical SocietySubject
Colloidal nanocrystals; Functional materials; Materials chemistryOrganisational unit
03763 - Niederberger, Markus / Niederberger, Markus
Funding
165888 - Tailored synthesis of nanoparticle-based aerogel monoliths and their use in gas phase reactions (SNF)
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