Connecting Energetics to Dynamics in Particle Aggregation Revealed by Real-Time Observations

Although the physical insights into oriented aggregation of mineral nanoparticles have been recently gained a lot from real-time observations, the impact of many fundamental solution parameters such as particle shape, solution structural and pH, on governing aggregation behavior and dynamic is largely unexplored. Using zinc oxide (ZnO) nanoparticle and boehmite(γ-AlOOH) nanoplatelets as two different anisotropic systems, we combine in situ liquid phase TEM (LPTEM) observations of single particle and ensemble assembly dynamics with simulations of interparticle forces and responses to relate experimentally derived interparticle potentials to the underlying interactions. We also establish the relationships between solution chemistry, forces and response dynamics to address the challenging of the crystal structure in directing the oriented aggregation behavior. Our findings on nanocrystal aggregation and interactions provide insights toward the predictive understanding of nanoparticle growth, assembly, and aggregation, which are of great importance in the strategic development of nanomaterials and nature environments.