Monodisperse nanoparticle containing thin films via self-assembly

Abstract

A method and structure that forms a multilayer nanoparticle thin film assembly begins by functionalizing a substrate with functional molecules. Next, the invention replaces a stabilizer on a bottom surface of the first nanoparticles with the functional molecules via surface ligand exchange to make a first nanoparticle layer on the substrate. The invention then replaces the stabilizer on a top surface of the first nanoparticle layer with functional molecules via surface ligand exchange. The invention replaces the stabilizer on a bottom surface of the second nanoparticles with the functional molecules via surface ligand exchange to make a second nanoparticle layer on the first nanoparticle layer. Lastly, the invention repeats the previous steps and forms additional nanoparticle layers.

1 - 26 . (Cancelled)  
     
     
         27 . A multilayer nanoparticle thin film assembly comprising: 
 a substrate having a coating of functional molecules;    a first layer of nanoparticles bound to said substrate by said functional molecules;    at least one additional layer of nanoparticles bound to a preceding layer of nanoparticles with said functional molecules.    
     
     
         28 . The assembly in  claim 27 , wherein said substrate has a shape of one of a plane, a sphere, a V-type tip, an ellipsoid and a cylinder.  
     
     
         29 . The assembly in  claim 27 , wherein said substrate comprises one of glass, quartz, ceramics, silicon, silicon oxide, and carbon.  
     
     
         30 . The assembly in  claim 27 , wherein said functional molecules comprise one of monomeric and polymeric molecules.  
     
     
         31 . The assembly in  claim 27 , wherein said functional molecules comprise functional groups including COOR, CONR2, NH2, SH, and OH.  
     
     
         32 . The assembly in  claim 27 , wherein said functional molecules comprise at least two functional groups represented as H2N-R-NH2, where R comprises a common organic or inorganic chain.  
     
     
         33 . The assembly in  claim 27 , wherein said stabilizer comprises one of H2O, RCOOR1, RCONR1, RNH2, RSH, RCN, ROH, R4N+, where R and R1 represent common organic chains.  
     
     
         34 . The assembly in  claim 27 , wherein said first nanoparticles are different than said second nanoparticles.  
     
     
         35 . The assembly in  claim 27 , wherein said first layer of nanoparticles and said additional layer of nanoparticles comprise one of a hard magnetic thin film, a granular metal oxide film, a metal carbide film, a metal sulfide film, and a metal haloride film.  
     
     
         36 . The assembly in  claim 35 , wherein said hard magnetic thin film comprises one of a FePt, CoPt, and CoSm for magnetic recording applications.