Fig. 2: Surface pattern of the ligands on Ag77Cu22 NCs.

The ligands are distributed perpendicular to the waist (a) or on the poles (b). c Interactions between the pole ligands and their surrounding ligands. d, e side views of a and b. f Interactions between the ligands perpendicular to the waist. g Seven close-packed Ag77Cu22 NCs with interactions in six directions. h Top view and i side view of the interparticle interactions point-by-point. Color codes: orange, pink, yellow, C; white, H; cyan, S, Ag, Cu.