Unraveling the influence of the anchored head group and ligand tail group length on self-assembly of ZnO NCs at the air-water interface

Files contain raw data for the figures:Figure 2. Representative STEM images of (a - c) ZnO-X1-0, (d - f) ZnO-X1-1, (g - i) ZnO-X1-2, and (j - l) ZnO-X1-3 NCs in SE, and HRTEM modes along with their size distributions.Figure 3. Surface pressure versus area isotherms of ZnO NCs coated with a) phosphate (ZnO-X1-1, ZnO-X1-2, ZnO-X1-3) and c) carboxylate ligands (ZnO-X2-1, ZnO-X2-2, ZnO-X2-3) with varying tail lengths recorded for various volumes of suspensions applied on the air-water interface. Insets show contact cross-sectional area (CCSA), which increased linearly with increased volumes of NCs suspensions applied onto the air-water interface; b) compression isotherms expressed in a function of area per single phosphate-coated ZnO NCs.Figure 5. Viscoelastic properties of monolayers under dilatational deformations: a) phosphate ligand-coated NCs (ZnO-X1-1 NCs – ZnO-X1-3) and b) carboxylate ligand-coated NCs (ZnO-X2-1 NCs – ZnO-X2-3).Figure 6. a) X-ray reflectivity patterns and simulated fit curve for phosphate ligand-coated ZnO NCs (ZnO-X1-1 - ZnO-X1-3) thin films transferred to silicon wafers at surface pressures of 6, 9, and 10 mN·m–1, according to the Langmuir-Blodgett method; b) density profile used for XRR pattern simulation; c) SEM images of ZnO NCs thin films deposited on solid substrate. Figure S1. Powder X-ray diffraction pattern of ZnO-X1-0 – ZnO-X1-3 NCs in comparison with bulk ZnO pattern (blue line) confirming wurtzite crystalline core structure.Figure S2. Normalized absorption (left) and emission (right) spectra of as-prepared diorganophosphate-coated ZnO NCs collected in THF.Figure S3. FTIR spectra of ZnO-X1-0 - ZnO-X1-3 NCs.Figure S4. The TGA and derivative thermogravimetric analysis (DTG) traces showing the decomposition of ZnO-X1-0 - ZnO-X1-3 NCs (blue line) and the corresponding diorganophosphate proligands (black line) in an air atmosphere.Figure S5. Powder X-ray diffraction pattern of ZnO-X2-1 – ZnO-X2-3 NCs in comparison with bulk ZnO pattern (blue line) confirming wurtzite crystalline core structure.Figure S6. Normalized absorption (left) and emission (rig) spectra of as-prepared reference-type carboxylate-coated ZnO NCs collected in THF.Figure S7. The TGA and derivative thermogravimetric analysis (DTG) traces showing the decomposition of ZnO-X2-1 - ZnO-X2-3 NCs (blue line) and the corresponding diorganophosphate pro-ligands (black line) in an air atmosphere.Figure S8. a) Surface pressure versus area isotherms and corresponding CCSA recorded for dimethyl phosphate-coated ZnO-X1-0 NCs and b) compression isotherms expressed in a function of area per single ZnO NCs.Figure S9. Reproducibility of Langmuir isotherms upon compression-decompression cycles.Figure S10. Surface compressional modulus as a function of area per single ZnO NCs.