Reconfigurable Matter from Programmable Atom Equivalents

In Year 5, we continued to enhance our understanding of reconfigurable matter using programmable atom equivalents (PAEs) as building blocks. For example, nanoparticles from earth-abundant metals, such as aluminum, have been explored as highly plasmonic PAE feedstocks, and noncentrosymmetric Au bipyramids were introduced as feedstocks (Objective 1). PAE superlattices have been advanced to demonstrate a property known as hypereleasticity, where the crystals contain a shape memory capable of restoring their shape upon dehydration and rehydration (Objective 2). Superlattices with narrow size distributions have been synthesized by separating nucleation and growth during crystallization through the use of designed base mismatches in the DNA sticky ends (Objective 3). Finally, hollow nanoframe particles have been shown to be excellent broadband absorbers when ultrathin monolayers are dried on a substrate (Objective 4). Together, the progress made in Year 5 has substantially improved our ability to realize structurally sophisticated and complex programmable and reconfigurable superlattices and has enabled our exploration of their emergent functional properties.