Abstract
Three-component colloidal hybrid nanoparticles, which are central to a diverse array of applications, are typically synthesized using successive seeded growth steps, which are additive in nature and driven by surface chemistry considerations and material-specific preferences for nucleation and growth. Here, we describe a new nanoparticle insertion reaction for transforming heterodimers into heterotrimers, which is based on a supersaturation-precipitation pathway that shifts the driving force for heterotrimer formation away from surface-driven nucleation and growth. To demonstrate the concept, a Ge segment is inserted between the Au and Fe3O4 domains of Au-Fe3O4 heterodimers to form Au-Ge-Fe3O4 heterotrimers. Microscopic investigations reveal important mechanistic insights, including identification of a proposed Au-Ge-Au-Fe3O4 intermediate. The process can be modified to access the analogous addition product Ge-Au-Fe3O4, allowing tuning between two distinct heterotrimer isomers with different configurations.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 12514-12517 |
Number of pages | 4 |
Journal | Journal of the American Chemical Society |
Volume | 137 |
Issue number | 39 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Oct 7 2015 |
All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes
- Catalysis
- General Chemistry
- Biochemistry
- Colloid and Surface Chemistry