BCALL PRIN 2022D. D. N. 104 DEL 2 FEBRUARY 2022
PROJECT TITLE SUPERcrystals by ligand-controlled organization of colloidal nanoparticles (SUPERNANO)
CUP CODE D53D23005380006
Budget: € 83.864
P.I. or U.R. Coordinator
Prof. Roberto Grisorio
Other Research Units or any Sub-Units
National Research Council (CNR)
University of Naples “Federico II”
BREVE DESCRIZIONE DEL PROGETTO
The SUPERNANO project focuses on the field of nanomaterials and aims to develop three-dimensional supercrystals (SCs) obtained through the controlled self-assembly of colloidal nanoparticles, particularly quantum dots and perovskite nanocrystals. The objective is to overcome the difficulty of integrating nanoparticles into devices by creating micrometre-scale structures that retain the optical and electronic properties typical of the nanoscale. SCs are systems in which nanoparticles behave as “artificial atoms”, giving rise to emerging collective properties. The project combines i) controlled nanoparticle synthesis, ii) surface-ligand engineering, iii) self-assembly techniques and iv) advanced characterisation and multiscale modelling.
PURPOSES
The main purposes of the project concern i) the fabrication of highly ordered 3D supercrystals from luminescent nanoparticles, ii) control of the interaction between nanoparticles through ligand design, reducing interparticle distances, iii) improvement of the stability and reproducibility of the superstructures, iv) electronic coupling between nanoparticles to achieve advanced collective properties and v) the development of functional materials for optoelectronic and photonic applications.
A key aspect is the engineering of surface chemistry to move from weakly coupled systems to structures with strong electronic interaction and state delocalisation.
EXPECTED RESULTS
The project aims to achieve:
- stable and highly ordered supercrystals, with control over morphology and crystal phase,
- reduction of the distance between nanoparticles to the sub-nanometre regime,
- emergence of collective properties (e.g. dipolar coupling, electronic minibands),
- improvement of optical properties (emission, efficiency, spectral control),
- development of predictive multiscale modelling for materials design.
These results are fundamental for applications in:
- LEDs and lasers
- optoelectronic devices
- advanced photonics
- quantum technologies
RISULTATI RAGGIUNTI
The experimental activity has led to significant results in the understanding and fabrication of supercrystals based on perovskite nanocrystals:
Development of a controlled self-assembly strategy based on slow destabilisation in the presence of an anti-solvent, enabling the direct formation of well-defined micrometre-scale supercrystals,
Demonstration of the role of Mn(II) doping in modifying the optical properties (introduction of a red-orange emissive band), morphology and assembly dynamics,
Observation of complex hierarchical structures, with non-emissive bulk-like internal domains and peripheral regions that remain nanocrystalline and luminescent,
Overall, these results demonstrated that doping and surface chemistry profoundly influence self-assembly and that it is possible to design superstructures with tailored optical and structural properties.
