Fig. 4: Antisolvent injection induces mesophase formation, enabling fusion of intermediate nanoclusters into nanorods.

a In situ small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) intensities of a 3 monolayer (ML) nanorod-forming reaction mixture after antisolvent injection as a function of scattering vector and time. b In situ photoluminescence (PL) intensities of a 3ML nanorod-forming mixture as a function of wavelength and time. The initially broad PL of intermediate nanoclusters is strongly reduced by antisolvent injection. Later, the characteristic emission of 3ML nanorods at > 450 nm is recovered. c, SAXS and PL intensities extracted from (a and b), summarised. d Sketch of hexagonal mesophase formation and transformation of prolate intermediate nanoclusters to nanorods. e In situ SAXS intensities of a 2ML nanoplatelet-forming reaction mixture after antisolvent injection. f In situ PL intensities of a 2ML nanoplatelet-forming mixture. The initial PL from intermediate nanoclusters is suppressed in favour of a sharp peak at 433 nm, characteristic of the formation of 2ML nanoplatelets. g SAXS and PL intensities extracted from (e and f), summarised. h Sketch of the sequence of growth of freely dispersed nanoplatelets from intermediate nanoclusters and subsequent stacking of nanoplatelets. Source data are provided as a Source Data file.