Rapid Fire
‘Atomic Stencils’ Enable Precision Design of Nanoparticles
- 24 Oct 2025
- 2 min read
Researchers have developed an atomic stenciling technique to precisely apply polymer patches onto microscopic gold nanoparticles, allowing unprecedented control over their structure.
- Process: The process has two key steps:
- Atomic Stenciling (The Masking): The researchers use iodide atoms as an "atomic stencil" or mask. These atoms are engineered to selectively bond and stick only to specific, flat crystal faces of the gold nanoparticle.
- Polymer Painting (The Patching): A polymer solution is then introduced. The polymer material only bonds to the unmasked, exposed gold surfaces, forming a precise patch exactly where intended.
- The patches so formed are so uniform that the nanoparticles could spontaneously self-assemble into highly ordered 3D crystals (superlattices), representing a major milestone in nanomaterials science that was previously largely theoretical.
- Benefits: The method allows for atomic-level control over the patch's size, shape, and location, enabling the creation of over 20 distinct types of patterned nanoparticles (e.g., corner patches, face patches, web designs).
- Applications: This control is a crucial step toward creating metamaterials with properties not found in nature.
- Potential applications include targeted drug delivery, ultra-efficient catalysts, advanced electronics, and smart materials.
Stenciling is a technique for applying a design or pattern to a surface by passing ink, paint, or another medium through a cut-out template (the stencil).
- The key principle is that the stencil acts as a barrier, blocking the medium from reaching the surface everywhere except the open, cut-out areas, which form the design.
|
Read More: Nanotechnology |
