What question did this study set out to answer?

To develop a scalable, bottom-up atomic stencilling methodology for synthesizing patchy nanoparticles with precisely patterned polymer coatings.

October 15, 2025NatureOpen Access

Patchy nanoparticles by atomic stencilling

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Authors

AKAhyoung KimJohns Hopkins University CKChansong KimUniversity of Illinois System TWTommy WaltmannUniversity of Michigan

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Implication

Experimental study demonstrates atomic stencilling for patchy nanoparticle synthesis in colloidal systems, indicating new avenues for nanoscale patterning and self-assembly.

Key Points

To develop a scalable, bottom-up atomic stencilling methodology for synthesizing patchy nanoparticles with precisely patterned polymer coatings.
Employed surface-adsorbed iodide submonolayers as atomic masks and grafted polymers onto unmasked particle facets as ligand-mediated paint.
Applied polymer scaling theory and molecular dynamics simulations to analyze the interplay of enthalpic and entropic polymer forces on particle morphology.
Evaluated the colloidal self-assembly behavior of the resulting polymer-patched nanoparticles into crystalline superlattices.
Synthesized more than 20 distinct types of polymer-patch-coated nanoparticles in high yield, revealing previously unobserved patchy particle morphologies.
Achieved self-assembly of uniform patchy nanoparticles into extended crystalline superlattices, including non-closely packed configurations.

Cite This Study

Kim et al. (2025) studied this question.

synapsesocial.com/papers/6a9907a7bd3522584418f63f https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-025-09605-8

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Implication

Experimental study demonstrates atomic stencilling for patchy nanoparticle synthesis in colloidal systems, indicating new avenues for nanoscale patterning and self-assembly.

Patchy nanoparticles by atomic stencilling

Discussion

Member takes

Implication

Key Points

Cite This Study

Patchy nanoparticles by atomic stencilling

Discussion

Member takes

Implication

Key Points

Cite This Study

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