Programmable Self-Assembly of Gold Nanoarrows via Regioselective Adsorption

Programing the self-assembly of colloidal nanoparticles into predetermined superstructures represents an attractive strategy to realize functional assemblies and novel nanodevices, but it remains a challenge. Herein, gold nanoarrows (GNAs) showing a distinct convex-concave structure were employed as unique building blocks for programmable self-assembly involving multiple assembly modes. Regioselective adsorption of 1,10-decanedithiol on the vertexes, edges, and facets of GNAs allowed for programmable self-assembly of GNAs with five distinct assembly modes, and regioselective blocking with 1-dodecanethiol followed by adsorption of 1,10-decanedithiol gave rise to programmable self-assembly with six assembly modes including three novel wing-engaged modes. The assembly mode was essentially determined by regioselective adsorption of the dithiol linker dictated by the local curvature together with the shape complementarity of GNAs. This approach reveals how the geometric morphology of nanoparticles affects their regioselective functionalization and drives their self-assembly.