![Sample our Physical Sciences journals, sign in here to start your FREE access for 14 days]({"type":"image" , "src" : "/sda/110819/TOC-Subject-Sample-2021-Physical-Sciences.jpg"})
Abstract
In this review article, we describe a precise synthetic recipe to prepare water‐soluble gold and silver nanoparticles, and present how to prepare two dimensional as well as three‐dimensional superlattices utilizing a hydrophilic and hydrophobic interface. We emphasize the importance of the role of side chain groups of thiol for controlling the properties of nanoparticles at the interface. Through chemical modification of the surface of nanoparticles via ion–pair interaction or covalent‐bonding, it is shown how the phase transfer extraction efficiency is tuned. The interparticle distance in the superlattice can be varied by an appropriate selection of mediator molecules through hydrogen bonding, which is automatically inserted among particles giving ordered structure. Some examples of three dimensional superlattices produced are presented, and the formation mechanism of the superlattices at the hydrophilic/hydrophobic interface is proposed through the van der Waals force calculation. A comparison is made between the calculation and experiments.