Effect of TEM grid deposition method on the dispersion of thiol-stabilised silver nanoparticles

Thiol stabilised Ag nanoparticles (NP) in cyclohexane dispersed onto TEM carbon support grids show evidence for agglomeration, whilst the addition of dodecanethiol to the cyclohexane is found to affect the dispersion of the NP which can show highly ordered superlattice formations with close packing, being attributable to the combined effects of convective deposition (coffee ring effect) and the dodecanethiol surfactant.