Dynamic organization of inorganic nanoparticles into periodic micrometer-scale patterns

Reading between the lines: Films of manganese oxide nanoparticles can be prepared from immersion into a colloidal solution of tetramethylammonium manganese oxide, followed by solvent evaporation. The resultant films exhibit a series of parallel lines (see picture), which themselves are comprised of many smaller lines. Ion-exchange processes with potassium ions can be accomplished without a loss of structural integrity.