Dilution does the trick: Role of mixed solvent evaporation in controlling nanoparticle self-assembly

- Controllable dodecylamine capped gold nanoparticle superlattices have been obtained.
- Solvent evaporation from the nanoparticle dispersion leads to 2D or 3D superlattices.
- Dilution of dispersion with a similar but higher boiling solvent is a crucial step.
- Nature of superlattice structures depends on the differential solvent evaporation.