Controlling orientational order in 1-D assemblies of multivalent triangular prisms

Multivalent nanostructures are becoming an increasingly important player in the self-assembly of supramolecular lattices. Understanding the role that shape plays in the coordination of the assemblies is crucial for the functional response of the material. We develop a simple design rule for the assembly of multivalent Au triangular nanoprisms into 1-D ordered arrays based on both the length of the valent DNA and the aspect ratio of the prism. Using MD simulations, we describe an order parameter that captures the short-range order of the assembly controlled by the design parameters. The order parameter shows that even short chains (N = 4) of prisms have a high degree of orientational order that transitions to no orientational order when the DNA length is similar to the prism length. Unlike isotropic polyvalent assemblies, we find that the highly oriented chains of prisms lose orientational order in discrete steps during melting as the prisms in the arrays dissociate.