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Published online by Cambridge University Press: 21 March 2011
The structural, electrical and electrochemical properties of nanoparticle thin films derived by a one-step exchange-crosslinking-precipitation route were characterized by microscopic, spectroscopic and electrochemical techniques. Thiolate-encapsulated gold nanocrystals of 2-nm and 5-nm core sizes and alkyldithiol crosslinkers were studied as a model system. The mixing of the two components in solutions allowed sequential exchanging, crosslinking and precipitation of dithiol-crosslinked nanocrystal thin films. The films were specularly reflecting and electronically continuous, and have potential applications in catalysis and molecular recognition.