Anisotropic surface potentials induced by competitive ion adsorption enable the synthesis of branched cubic Pt mesocrystals
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.
Authors
- Yun Kyung Shin (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8198-001X)
- Hanlei Zhang (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6540-0556)
- Zihua Zhu (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5770-8462)
- Hua Zhou (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9642-8674)
- Eric Jensen (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9970-980X)
- James J. De Yoreo (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9541-733X)
- Kristian Mølhave (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6493-2750)
- Jaehun Chun (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2291-6496)
- Trevor Moser (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9399-0514)
- Jaeyoung Heo (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7119-9318)
- Kristen A. Fichthorn (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4256-714X)
- James Evans (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7721-4782)
- Yuna Bae (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2604-1180)
- Dongsheng Li (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1030-146X)
- Eun Mi Kim (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5016-0326)
Institutions
- Argonne National Laboratory (US)
- Pennsylvania State University (US)
- Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (US)
- University of Washington (US)
- Environmental Molecular Sciences Laboratory (US)
- Technical University of Denmark (DK)
Publication Details
- Journal
- Nature Communications
- Published
- 2025-11-05
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-64494-9
- Primary Topic
- Pickering emulsions and particle stabilization
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 0.00
Funders
- National Science Foundation
- U.S. Department of Energy
- Battelle
- Office of Science
- Society for Personality and Social Psychology
- Division of Materials Research
- Office of Advanced Cyberinfrastructure
- Basic Energy Sciences
- Biological and Environmental Research
- Pacific Northwest National Laboratory