Synthesis of Prussian Blue Nanoparticles and Nanocrystal Superlattices in Reverse Microemulsions

Controlled growth of molecular magnets, in terms of their size, shape, and organization, is demonstrated with a model cyanometallate, Prussian blue crystals. The TEM image shows the hydrophobic cubic nanoparticles (scale bar 100 nm), prepared in a microemulsion and encapsulated in a shell of surfactant, which readily self-assemble into the higher-order square superlattice.