Institut Charles Sadron Event

This thesis focuses on the structural analysis of self-assembled nanomaterials using a bottom-up approach. Specifically, it investigates the self-assembly of spindle nanoparticles and highly anisotropic TiO2 nanofilaments into 3D architectures. Small- and wide-angle X-ray scattering determined the organization of these systems, which is inaccessible using traditional microscopy techniques. The study of spindle nanoparticles showed that, upon assembly, the structures favor highly symmetrical arrangements over the most compact ones. We also demonstrated polymorphism through the formation of distinct crystal structures by symmetry breaking. Furthermore, the analysis of the nanofilaments revealed that they are organized into ribbons in the colloidal state and assemble into multilayer stacks upon drying. The structure of these stacks directly influences their photocatalytic properties while propagating the high anisotropy of the nanofilaments across different length scales. Keywords: SWAXS, SEM, TEM, self-assembly, nanomaterials