Figure 2.

(a) Proposed mechanism of the self-assembly of NPs after the injection: (i) convective assembly of NPs at the solvent/air interface; (ii) increase of the dispersive interaction between NPs upon solvent thinning; and (iii) formation of closely packed arrays. Reprinted with permission from ref (43). Copyright 2001 American Vacuum Society. (b) Optical microscopy images of Ag NP films at different stages of compression: (i) monolayer, (ii) hash phase, (iii) wrinkling, and (iv) giant V-folds. Reprinted with permission from ref (37). Copyright 2011 AIP Publishing.