Figure 3.

Bistability inducing disparity in nanoparticle self‐assembly kinetics. A) General layout of the experiments performed to regulate the Au NPs self‐assembly and shape by the bistable reaction network SSs. B,C) UV/Vis spectra that enabled us to follow the real‐time aggregation of bluish Au NP seeds within the Hss and Lss mixtures, respectively. D) Au NP plasmon resonance absorption (603 nm) as a function of time, extracted from the data shown in (B) and (C). E,F) TEM images of Au NP aggregates obtained after 1 h and 3 h incubation times in the Hss and Lss mixtures, respectively. G) Layout of the switching experiments, in which the Hss was triggered to convert into the Lss, and vice versa, prior to their reactions with the bluish Au NP seeds. H,I) TEM images of Au NP aggregates obtained after 1 h and 3 h incubation times in the Lss‐to‐Hss and Hss‐to‐Lss switch mixtures, respectively. The NRG processes were carried out in the respective SS mixtures with 30 μm of Au blue seeds (anisotropic NP seeds) at pH 7 and 22 °C.