Shape and aggregation control of nanoparticles: Not shaken, not stirred

Abstract

The aggregation of nanoparticles during synthesis, particularly the effect of mechanical agitation, is investigated from a viewpoint of nucleation using a conjugated polymer, polyaniline, as an example. Homogeneous nucleation of polyaniline results in nanofibers, while heterogeneous nucleation leads to granular particulates. Mechanical agitation, which is a common method for disrupting aggregates, instead dramatically triggers aggregation during the synthetic process and favors the formation of granular particulates. Correlating the shape and aggregation of polyaniline nanoparticles with the mode of nucleation, a new aggregation mechanism is proposed in which aggregation is triggered by hete..