{
  "abstract": "Colloidal nanocrystals are complex objects, comprising a solid inorganic core and a soft shell of organic ligands, both of which contribute to defining their properties. Obtaining an atomically precise description of both components remains an open challenge. Yet, these hybrid building blocks can self-assemble into supercrystals sufficiently large to be isolated and analyzed individually. It may therefore come as a surprise that single-supercrystal X-ray diffraction is not routinely used to investigate the structure of their constituent nanocrystals. Here, we propose a roadmap for establishing supercrystallography as the science of obtaining structural information about colloidal building blocks through diffraction experiments performed on their supercrystals. We review existing examples of single-supercrystal X-ray diffraction, examine the opportunities that may emerge from extending crystallographic methods to colloidal supercrystals, and discuss the main challenges that must be overcome to realize this vision. Drawing inspiration from the crystallography of nanoclusters and proteins, systems that share deep similarities with colloidal nanocrystals, we outline a possible path connecting state-of-the-art experiments to complete atomistic models through innovative data-analysis strategies. Finally, we consider how supercrystallography could complement existing characterization techniques, and develop into an accessible framework for investigating the structure of colloidal nanocrystals and their surface chemistry.",
  "abstract_shown": true,
  "affiliations": [
    "Department of Chemical Engineering",
    "Massachusetts Institute of Technology",
    "Department of Chemistry, Lund University, P.O. Box 124, Lund, Sweden, SE-221 00"
  ],
  "article_type": null,
  "arxiv": null,
  "author_total": 3,
  "authors": [
    {
      "affs": [
        0,
        1,
        2
      ],
      "name": "Stefano Toso",
      "orcid": "0000-0002-1621-5888"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        2
      ],
      "name": "Dmitry Baranov",
      "orcid": "0000-0001-6439-8132"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0,
        1
      ],
      "name": "William A. Tisdale",
      "orcid": "0000-0002-6615-5342"
    }
  ],
  "bibtex": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/cfnvqk8s8mb1r.bib",
  "cited_by": 0,
  "doi": "10.26434/chemrxiv.15009461/v1",
  "fulltext_url": null,
  "id": "cfnvqk8s8mb1r",
  "issns": [],
  "landing_url": "https://chemrxiv.org/doi/full/10.26434/chemrxiv.15009461/v1",
  "language": null,
  "licence": "CC-BY",
  "licence_label": "CC BY",
  "licence_source": "journal",
  "licence_url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/",
  "metadata_licence": null,
  "native_subjects": [
    [
      "openalex",
      "2505|Quantum Dots Synthesis And Properties"
    ]
  ],
  "openalex": "W7214357220",
  "pdf_url": "https://chemrxiv.org/doi/pdf/10.26434/chemrxiv.15009461/v1",
  "pmcid": null,
  "pmid": null,
  "published": "2026-09-24",
  "publisher": "American Chemical Society (ACS)",
  "ris": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/cfnvqk8s8mb1r.ris",
  "sources": [
    {
      "first_seen": "2026-10-30T12:17:21Z",
      "native_id": "10.26434/chemrxiv.15009461",
      "source": "chemrxiv",
      "url": "https://chemrxiv.org/doi/full/10.26434/chemrxiv.15009461/v1"
    }
  ],
  "subjects": [
    {
      "field": "chemistry",
      "origin": "openalex:2505|Quantum Dots Synthesis And Properties",
      "subfield": "materials-polymers"
    }
  ],
  "title": "A Roadmap for Supercrystallography: From Single-Supercrystal Diffraction to the Atomic Structure of Colloidal Nanocrystals",
  "title_text": "A Roadmap for Supercrystallography: From Single-Supercrystal Diffraction to the Atomic Structure of Colloidal Nanocrystals",
  "type": "preprint",
  "updated_at": "2026-10-30T12:17:21Z",
  "url": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/cfnvqk8s8mb1r",
  "venue": "ChemRxiv",
  "versions": []
}