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Updated: Mar 25, 2026

Characterization of Nanocrystal Size Distribution using Raman Spectroscopy with a Multi-particle Phonon Confinement Model
Published on: August 22, 2015
Intramolecular Entropy and Size-Dependent Solution Properties of Nanocrystal-Ligands Complexes
Yu Yang1, Haiyan Qin1, Xiaogang Peng1
1Center for Chemistry of Novel & High-Performance Materials, Department of Chemistry, Zhejiang University , Hangzhou, 310027, People's Republic of China.
Abstract:
CdSe-stearates nanocrystal-ligands complex as a whole possess strongly temperature- and size-dependent yet well-defined solubility in small organic solvents, which shows little solvent effects as long as the complexes remained intact. A quantitative thermodynamic model is developed to describe such solubility behavior, which differs fundamentally from conventional models for micron colloids. The model reveals that the conformation entropy of the n-alkanoate chain released in dissolution greatly stabilize the colloidal solution but the strong chain-chain interdigitation between adjacent particles in solid diminishes the solubility. These understandings result in "entropic ligands" (see full disclosure in another report (10.1021/acs.nanolett.6b00730)) as the universal means to battle processability challenges of colloidal nanocrystals.
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