Multiphasic size-dependent growth dynamics of nanoparticle ensembles

J Ji-Hyun Kim (Global Science Research Center for Systems Chemistry) J Joodeok Kim (Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, and Institute of Chemical Processes) B Byung Hyo Kim (Center for Nanoparticle Research) S Sanggeun Song (Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering) J Jingyu Kang (Global Science Research Center for Systems Chemistry) J Jinho Rhee (Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, and Institute of Chemical Processes) D Donghee Kim (Global Science Research Center for Systems Chemistry) H Hoje Chun (Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Yonsei University) H Hyesung Choi (Center for Nanoparticle Research, Institute for Basic Science) H Hyungjin Cho (Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Soongsil University) Y Yongjoon Kim (Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Soongsil University) J Jae Won Jung (Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Soongsil University) Y Youngju Son (Center for Nanoparticle Research, Institute for Basic Science) J Junhyeok Jung (Center for Nanoparticle Research, Institute for Basic Science) K Kunwoo Park (Center for Nanoparticle Research, Institute for Basic Science) S Sungho Jeon (Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Pennsylvania, 3231 Walnut Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, United States) M Minho Lee (Department of Chemistry, Global Science Research Center for Systems Chemistry, Chung-Ang University) B Byungchan Han W Won Chul Lee (Department of Mechanical Engineering, Brain Korea 21 FOUR Education Research Industry Cluster at Ansan-Advanced Materials, Components, Manufacturing Equipment Research Center, Hanyang University) D Dongjun Kim (Center for Nanoparticle Research, Institute for Basic Science) T Taeghwan Hyeon (Center for Nanoparticle Research) J Jaeyoung Sung (Global Science Research Center for Systems Chemistry) J Jungwon Park

Abstract

Colloidal nanoparticles are of great interest in modern science and industry. However, the thermodynamic mechanism and dynamics of nanoparticle growth have yet to be understood. Addressing these issues, we tracked hundreds of in-situ growth trajectories of a nanoparticle ensemble using liquid-phase TEM and found that the nanoparticle growth, including coalescence, exhibits nanoparticle size-dependent multiphasic dynamics, unexplainable by current theories. Motivated by this finding, we developed a model and theory for an ensemble of growing nanoparticles, providing a unified, quantitative understanding of the time-dependent mean and fluctuation of nanoparticle size and size-dependent growth rate profiles across various nanoparticle systems and experimental conditions. Our work reveals that the chemical potential in a small nanoparticle strongly deviates from the Gibbs–Thomson equation, shedding light on how it governs the size-dependent growth dynamics of nanoparticles.

Article Details

Volume / Issue Vol. 122, Issue 23
Published June 10, 2025
ISSN 0027-8424
Publisher National Academy of Sciences

Authors (23)

J

Ji-Hyun Kim

Global Science Research Center for Systems Chemistry

J

Joodeok Kim

Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, and Institute of Chemical Processes

B

Byung Hyo Kim

Center for Nanoparticle Research

S

Sanggeun Song

Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering

J

Jingyu Kang

Global Science Research Center for Systems Chemistry

J

Jinho Rhee

Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, and Institute of Chemical Processes

D

Donghee Kim

Global Science Research Center for Systems Chemistry

H

Hoje Chun

Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Yonsei University

H

Hyesung Choi

Center for Nanoparticle Research, Institute for Basic Science

H

Hyungjin Cho

Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Soongsil University

Y

Yongjoon Kim

Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Soongsil University

J

Jae Won Jung

Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Soongsil University

Y

Youngju Son

Center for Nanoparticle Research, Institute for Basic Science

J

Junhyeok Jung

Center for Nanoparticle Research, Institute for Basic Science

K

Kunwoo Park

Center for Nanoparticle Research, Institute for Basic Science

S

Sungho Jeon

Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Pennsylvania, 3231 Walnut Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, United States

M

Minho Lee

Department of Chemistry, Global Science Research Center for Systems Chemistry, Chung-Ang University

B

Byungchan Han

W

Won Chul Lee

Department of Mechanical Engineering, Brain Korea 21 FOUR Education Research Industry Cluster at Ansan-Advanced Materials, Components, Manufacturing Equipment Research Center, Hanyang University

D

Dongjun Kim

Center for Nanoparticle Research, Institute for Basic Science

T

Taeghwan Hyeon

Center for Nanoparticle Research

J

Jaeyoung Sung

Global Science Research Center for Systems Chemistry

J

Jungwon Park