Complete assembly of Cu₂ZnSnS₄ (CZTS) nanorods at substrate interfaces using a combination of self and directed organisation

Here we report the two-stage assembly of semiconductor nanorods at substrates. The nanorods preassemble into 2D discs by self-organisation and these discs are deposited into conformal layers at substrates using electric field assembly. The intermediate self-assembly step can be eliminated by carrying out a judicious ligand exchange allowing selectivity for dimensional control of layer formation from nanorod building blocks in one two and three dimensions.