Nanocrystal Ordering Enhances Thermal Transport and Mechanics in Single-Domain Colloidal Nanocrystal Superlattices

Zhongyong Wang, Alexander D. Christodoulides, Lingyun Dai, Yang Zhou, Rui Dai, Yifei Xu, Qiong Nian, Junlan Wang, Jonathan A. Malen, Robert Y. Wang

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

6 Scopus citations

Abstract

Colloidal nanocrystal (NC) assemblies are promising for optoelectronic, photovoltaic, and thermoelectric applications. However, using these materials can be challenging in actual devices because they have a limited range of thermal conductivity and elastic modulus, which results in heat dissipation and mechanical robustness challenges. Here, we report thermal transport and mechanical measurements on single-domain colloidal PbS nanocrystal superlattices (NCSLs) that have long-range order as well as measurements on nanocrystal films (NCFs) that are comparatively disordered. Over an NC diameter range of 3.0-6.1 nm, we observe that NCSLs have thermal conductivities and Young's moduli that are up to ∼3 times higher than those of the corresponding NCFs. We also find that these properties are more sensitive to NC diameter in NCSLs relative to NCFs. Our measurements and computational modeling indicate that stronger ligand-ligand interactions due to enhanced ligand interdigitation and alignment in NCSLs account for the improved thermal transport and mechanical properties.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)4669-4676
Number of pages8
JournalNano Letters
Volume22
Issue number12
DOIs
StatePublished - Jun 22 2022

Keywords

  • ligands
  • mechanics
  • nanocrystal
  • superlattice
  • thermal transport

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Bioengineering
  • General Chemistry
  • General Materials Science
  • Condensed Matter Physics
  • Mechanical Engineering

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