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Strain and crystallographic identification of the helically concaved gap surfaces of chiral nanoparticles.

Sungwook ChoiSang Won ImJi-Hyeok HuhSungwon KimJaeseung KimYae-Chan LimRyeong Myeong KimJeong Hyun HanHyeohn KimMichael SprungSu Yong LeeWonsuk ChaRoss J HarderSeungwoo LeeKi Tae NamHyunjung Kim
Published in: Nature communications (2023)
Identifying the three-dimensional (3D) crystal plane and strain-field distributions of nanocrystals is essential for optical, catalytic, and electronic applications. However, it remains a challenge to image concave surfaces of nanoparticles. Here, we develop a methodology for visualizing the 3D information of chiral gold nanoparticles ≈ 200 nm in size with concave gap structures by Bragg coherent X-ray diffraction imaging. The distribution of the high-Miller-index planes constituting the concave chiral gap is precisely determined. The highly strained region adjacent to the chiral gaps is resolved, which was correlated to the 432-symmetric morphology of the nanoparticles and its corresponding plasmonic properties are numerically predicted from the atomically defined structures. This approach can serve as a comprehensive characterization platform for visualizing the 3D crystallographic and strain distributions of nanoparticles with a few hundred nanometers, especially for applications where structural complexity and local heterogeneity are major determinants, as exemplified in plasmonics.
Keyphrases
  • high resolution
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  • machine learning
  • high throughput
  • high speed