Nanoparticle superlattice self-assembly via interpolymer complexation*

Controlled self-assembly of nanoparticles into ordered structures is an auspicious strategy for fabricating novel devices in nanotechnology. As the number of successful strategies for synthesis increases, emphasis shifts towards those that are general, versatile, inexpensive and scalable. To this end, nanoparticle superlattices formed via interpolymer complexation offer a promising route towards a stable, usable class of materials. Understanding the interactions that drive these systems to equilibrium is a primary goal of the theoretical and computational community, as we develop models that capture the configurational characteristics of the system and ultimately predict experimental results. Making use of molecular dynamics simulations, we present our efforts towards understanding nanoparticle superlattices created via interpolymer complexation.