Rapid Epitaxial Growth of Ag on Au Nanoparticles: From Au Nanorods to Core-Shell Au@Ag Octahedrons

Tuning Chemical Interface Damping: Competition between Surface Damping Pathways in Amalgamated Gold Nanorods Coated with Mesoporous Silica Shells

The mechanism of mercury (Hg) amalgamation in gold nanorods coated with a mesoporous silica shell (AuNRs@mSiO2) and the effect of chemical treatments on the localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) spectral changes in single amalgamated AuNRs@mSiO2 remains unclear. In this study, we investigated Hg amalgamation and inward Hg diffusion in single AuNRs@mSiO2 without structural deformation via dark-field scattering spectroscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. Then, we investigated the chemisorption of thiol molecules on single amalgamated AuNRs@Hg-mSiO2. Unlike previous studies on single AuNRs, the thiolation on single AuNRs@Hg-mSiO2 resulted in a redshift and line width narrowing of the LSPR peak within 1 h. To determine the chemical effect, we investigated the competition between two surface damping pathways: metal interface damping (MID) and chemical interface damping (CID). When we exposed amalgamated AuNRs@Hg-mSiO2 to 1-alkanethiols with three different carbon chain lengths for 1 h, we observed an increase in the line width broadening with longer chain lengths owing to enhanced CID, demonstrating the tunability of CID and LSPR properties upon chemical treatments. We also investigated the competition between the two surface damping pathways as a function of the time-dependent Au-Hg surface properties in AuNRs@Hg-mSiO2. The 24-h Hg treatment resulted in increased line width broadening compared to the 1-h treatment for the same thiols, which was attributed to the predominance of CID. This was in contrast to the predominance of MID under the 1-h treatment, which formed a core-shell structure. Therefore, this study provides new insights into the Hg amalgamation process, the effect of chemical treatments, competition between surface decay pathways, and LSPR control in AuNRs@mSiO2.

Examining Silver Deposition Pathways onto Gold Nanorods with Liquid-Phase Transmission Electron Microscopy

Liquid-phase transmission electron microscopy (LP-TEM) enables one to directly visualize the formation of plasmonic nanoparticles and their postsynthetic modification, but the relative contributions of plasmonic hot electrons and radiolysis to metal precursor reduction remain unclear. Here we show silver deposition onto plasmonic gold nanorods (AuNRs) during LP-TEM is dominated by water radiolysis-induced chemical reduction. Silver was observed with LP-TEM to form bipyramidal shells at higher surfactant coverage and tip-preferential lobes at lower surfactant coverage. Ex situ silver photodeposition formed nanometer-thick shells on AuNRs with preferential deposition in inter-rod gaps, while chemical reduction deposited silver at AuNR tips at low surfactant coverage and formed pyramidal shells at higher surfactant coverage, consistent with LP-TEM. Silver deposition locations during LP-TEM were inconsistent with simulated near-field enhancement and hot electron generation hot spots. Collectively, the results indicate chemical reduction dominated during LP-TEM, indicating observation of plasmonic hot electron-induced photoreduction will necessitate suppression of radiolysis.

Design and fabrication of bimetallic plasmonic colloids through cold nanowelding

The integration of Au and Ag into nanoalloys has emerged as an intriguing strategy to further tailor and boost the plasmonic properties of optical substrates. Conventional approaches for fabricating these materials via chemical reductions of metal salts in solution suffer from some limitations, such as the possibility of retaining the original morphology of the monometallic substrate. Spontaneous nanowelding at room temperature has emerged as an alternative route to tailor Au/Ag nanomaterials. Herein, we perform a thorough study on the cold-welding process of silver nanoparticles onto gold substrates to gain a better understanding of the role of different variables in enabling the formation of well-defined bimetallic structures that retain the original gold substrate morphology. To this end, we systematically varied the size of silver nanoparticles, dimensions and geometries of gold substrates, solvent polarity and structural nature of the polymeric coating. A wide range of optical and microscopy techniques have been used to provide a complementary and detailed description of the nanowelding process. We believe this extensive study will provide valuable insights into the optimal design and engineering of bimetallic plasmonic Ag/Au structures for application in nanodevices.

Seed surface doping-mediated seeded growth of Au–Ag Janus nanoparticles with tunable sizes and multiple plasmonic absorption modes

Gold–silver Janus nanoparticles with tunable sizes are successfully prepared, where the anisotropic deposition is induced by seed surface doping.

Tunable thickness of mesoporous ZnO-coated metal nanoparticles for enhanced visible-light driven photoelectrochemical water splitting

The insufficient utilization of sunlight of ZnO, due to its broad band gap, results in low efficiency for photocatalytic hydrogen production. In this work, plasmonic noble metal nanoparticles (NPs) with different shapes (spheres and rods) were combined with mesoporous ZnO forming core-shell nanostructure to enhance the photocatalytic efficiency of ZnO in visible-light region. The photoelectrochemical water splitting activities of the metal@ZnO core-shell nanocomposites (NCs) were investigated. The photocurrent response of metal@ZnO NCs was found higher than pure ZnO or the mixture of metal NPs and ZnO ascribed to the effective charge transfer mechanism. It was also found that the photocurrent of metal@ZnO NCs was related to the thickness of ZnO and there was optimized shell for each kind of metal cores. Moreover, the introduction of Ag shell can get a higher photoelectrocatalytic efficiency compared to pure Au NPs core due to lower Schottky barrier between Ag and ZnO and wider extinction range in the visible light of Au@Ag NPs.

Shape-Controlled and Well-Arrayed Heterogeneous Nanostructures via Melting Point Modulation at the Nanoscale

A novel method for fabricating shape-controlled and well-arrayed heterogeneous nanostructures by altering the melting point of the metal thin film at the nanoscale is proposed. Silver nanofilms (AgNFs) are transformed into silver nanoislands (AgNIs), silver nanoparticles (AgNPs), and silver nanogaps (AgNGs) that are well-ordered and repositioned inside the gold nanoholes (AuNHs) depending on the diameter of the AuNHs, the thickness of the AgNF, and the heating temperature (120-200 °C). This method demonstrates the ability to fabricate uniform, stable, and unique structures with a fast, simple, and mass-producible process. For demonstrating the diverse applicability of the developed structures, high-density AgNGs inside the AuNHs are utilized as surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) substrates. These AgNGs-based SERS substrates exhibit a performance enhancement, which is 1.06 × 10⁶ times greater than that of a metal film, with a relative standard deviation of 19.8%. The developed AgNP/AgNI structures are also used as nonreproducible anti-counterfeiting signs, and the anti-counterfeiting/readout system is demonstrated via image processing. Therefore, our method could play a vital role in the nanofabrication of high-demand nanostructures.

Gold Nanorod Assemblies: The Roles of Hot-Spot Positioning and Anisotropy in Plasmon Coupling and SERS

Plasmon-coupled colloidal nanoassemblies with carefully sculpted "hot-spots" and intense surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) are in high demand as photostable and sensitive plasmonic nano-, bio-, and chemosensors. When maximizing SERS signals, it is particularly challenging to control the hot-spot density, precisely position the hot-spots to intensify the plasmon coupling, and introduce the SERS molecule in those intense hot-spots. Here, we investigated the importance of these factors in nanoassemblies made of a gold nanorod (AuNR) core and spherical nanoparticle (AuNP) satellites with ssDNA oligomer linkers. Hot-spot positioning at the NR tips was made possible by selectively burying the ssDNA in the lateral facets via controlled Ag overgrowth while retaining their hybridization and assembly potential at the tips. This strategy, with slight alterations, allowed us to form nanoassemblies that only contained satellites at the NR tips, i.e., directional anisotropic nanoassemblies; or satellites randomly positioned around the NR, i.e., nondirectional nanoassemblies. Directional nanoassemblies featured strong plasmon coupling as compared to nondirectional ones, as a result of strategically placing the hot-spots at the most intense electric field position of the AuNR, i.e., retaining the inherent plasmon anisotropy. Furthermore, as the dsDNA was located in these anisotropic hot-spots, this allowed for the tag-free detection down to 10 dsDNA and a dramatic SERS enhancement of 1.6 × 108 for the SERS tag SYBR gold, which specifically intercalates into the dsDNA. This dramatic SERS performance was made possible by manipulating the anisotropy of the nanoassemblies, which allowed us to emphasize the critical role of hot-spot positioning and SERS molecule positioning in nanoassemblies.

Controlled Electrodeposition of Gold on Graphene: Maximization of the Defect-Enhanced Raman Scattering Response

A reliable method to prepare a surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) active substrate is developed herein, by electrodeposition of gold nanoparticles (Au NPs) on defect-engineered, large area chemical vapour deposition graphene (GR). A plasma treatment strategy is used in order to engineer the structural defects on the basal plane of large area single-layer graphene. This defect-engineered Au functionalized GR, offers reproducible SERS signals over the large area GR surface. The Raman data, along with X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and analysis of the water contact angle are used to rationalize the functionalization of the graphene layer. It is found that Au NPs functionalization of the "defect-engineered" graphene substrates permits detection of concentrations as low as 10^-16 m for the probe molecule Rhodamine B, which offers an outstanding molecular sensing ability. Interestingly, a Raman signal enhancement of up to ≈10⁸ is achieved. Moreover, it is observed that GR effectively quenches the fluorescence background from the Au NPs and molecules due to the strong resonance energy transfer between Au NPs and GR. The results presented offer significant direction for the design and fabrication of ultra-sensitive SERS platforms, and also open up possibilities for novel applications of defect engineered graphene in biosensors, catalysis, and optoelectronic devices.

Bimetallic Au/Ag Core-Shell Superstructures with Tunable Surface Plasmon Resonance in the Near-Infrared Region and High Performance Surface-Enhanced Raman Scattering

Due to the larger surface area and the synergistic effects between two noble metals, the bimetallic superstructures exhibit enhanced distinctive optical, catalytic, and photothermal performances and surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) "hot-spot" effect, and thus have attracted great interest in various applications. Compared with the common Pd, Pt hierarchical structures coated onto Au nanoparticles (NPs), easily synthesized via fast autocatalytic surface growth arising from intrinsic properties of Pd and Pt metals, precisely controlling the hierarchical Ag growth onto Au NPs is rarely reported. In our present study, the reducing agent dopamine dithiocarbamate (DDTC) was covalently capped onto the first metal core (Au) to delicately control the growth model of the second metal (Ag). This results in heterogeneous nucleation and growth of Ag precursor on the surface of Au nanorods (NRs), and further formation of cornlike bimetallic Au/Ag core-shell superstructures, which usually cannot be achieved from traditional epitaxial growth. The thickness of the hierarchical Ag shell was finely tuned in a size range from 8 to 22 nm by simply varying the amount of the ratio between Ag ions and DDTC capped on Au NR core. The tunable Ag shell leads to anisotropic bimetallic Au/Ag core-shell superstructures, displaying two distinctive plasmonic resonances in the near-infrared region (NIR). In particular, the longitudinal surface plasmon resonance exhibits a broadly tunable range from 840 to 1277 nm. Additionally, the rich hot spots from obtained Au/Ag superstructures significantly enhance the SERS performance.

Inorganic/polymer hybrid nanoparticles for sensing applications

This paper reviews a wide set of sensing applications based on the special properties associated with inorganic/polymer composite nanoparticles. We first describe optical sensing applications performed with hybrid nanoparticles and hybrid microgels with special emphasis on photoluminescence detection and imaging. Analyte detection with molecularly imprinted polymers and HPLC-based sensing using hybrid nanoparticles as stationary phase is also summarized. The final part is devoted to the study of ultra-sensitive molecule detection by surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy using core-shell hybrid materials composed of noble metal nanoparticles and cross-linked polymers.

Plasmon-enhanced strong visible light photocatalysis by defect engineered CVD graphene and graphene oxide physically functionalized with Au nanoparticles

The strong visible light photocatalytic activity of defect-controlled CVD graphene (GR) and graphene oxide (GO) hybrids through physical functionalization with Au atoms has been demonstrated here.

The Ag shell thickness effect of Au@Ag@SiO2 core–shell nanoparticles on the optoelectronic performance of dye sensitized solar cells

The LSPR effect of Au@Ag@SiO₂ core–shell–ultra-thin shell nanoparticles is finely tailored and tuned by varying the Ag shell thickness. The growth of silver shell onto Au NPs led to color changes from different tones of red to orange.

Surface enhanced Raman scattering by graphene-nanosheet-gapped plasmonic nanoparticle arrays for multiplexed DNA detection

We have developed a new type of surface enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) substrate with thiolated graphene oxide (tGO) nanosheets sandwiched between two layers of closely packed plasmonic nanoparticles. The trilayered substrate is built up through alternative loading of interfacially assembled plasmonic nanoparticle arrays and tGO nanosheets, followed by coating the nanoparticle surfaces with poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG). Here tGO plays multifunctional roles as a 2D scaffold to immobilized interfacially assembled plasmonic nanoparticles, a nanospacer to create SERS-active nanogaps between two layers of nanoparticle arrays, and a molecule harvester to enrich molecules of interest viaπ-π interaction. In particular, the molecule harvesting capability of the tGO nanospacer and the stealth properties of PEG coating on the plasmonic nanoparticles collectively lead to preferential positioning of selective targets such as aromatic molecules and single-stranded DNA at the SERS-active nanogap hotspots. We have demonstrated that an SERS assay based on the PEGylated trilayered substrate, in combination with magnetic separation, allows for sensitive, multiplexed "signal-off" detection of DNA sequences of bacterial pathogens.

Controlled preparation of Au/Ag/SnO2 core-shell nanoparticles using a photochemical method and applications in LSPR based sensing

A photochemical method for the controlled preparation of core-shell Au/Ag/SnO2 nanorods (NRs) and nanospheres (NSs) has been developed based on photo-induced electron transfer processes in the plasmonic metal-semiconductor system. Au/AgNR/SnO2 and Au/AgNS/SnO2 were prepared by the UV irradiation of a mixture of mesoporous SnO2 coated AuNRs, or AuNSs, and AgNO3, in which AgNO3 was reduced by electrons transferred from the photo-excited mesoporous SnO2 (semiconductor) to the gold (metal). This method allows precise control over the composition and optical properties of the obtained nanoparticles. The LSPR refractive index sensitivity of the obtained Au/AgNR/SnO2 nanoparticles has been optimized to obtain a refractive index sensitivity of ∼442 nm RIU(-1). The optimized nanoparticles were subsequently chosen for the LSPR based sensing of glutathione (GSH) with the limit of detection of ∼7.5 × 10(-7) M. This photochemical method allows the controlled preparation of various Au/Ag/SnO2 nanoparticles to adjust their LSPR to suit various applications.

Exploring the benefits of electron tomography to characterize the precise morphology of core-shell Au@Ag nanoparticles and its implications on their plasmonic properties

In the design and engineering of functional core-shell nanostructures, material characterization at small length scales remains one of the major challenges. Here we show how electron tomography in high-angle annular dark-field scanning transmission electron microscopy (HAADF-STEM) mode can be applied successfully to perform nano-metrological characterization of Au@Ag core-shell nanostructures. This work stresses the benefits of HAADF-STEM tomography and its use as a novel and rigorous tool for understanding the physical-chemical properties of complex 3D core-shell nanostructures. The reconstructed Au@Ag core-shell architecture was used as an input for discrete dipole approximation (DDA)-based electrodynamics simulations of the optical properties of the nanostructures. The implications of localized surface plasmon spectroscopy as well as Raman-enhanced spectroscopy are analysed.

Emergent Properties and Toxicological Considerations for Nanohybrid Materials in Aquatic Systems

Conjugation of multiple nanomaterials has become the focus of recent materials development. This new material class is commonly known as nanohybrids or "horizon nanomaterials". Conjugation of metal/metal oxides with carbonaceous nanomaterials and overcoating or doping of one metal with another have been pursued to enhance material performance and/or incorporate multifunctionality into nano-enabled devices and processes. Nanohybrids are already at use in commercialized energy, electronics and medical products, which warrant immediate attention for their safety evaluation. These conjugated ensembles likely present a new set of physicochemical properties that are unique to their individual component attributes, hence increasing uncertainty in their risk evaluation. Established toxicological testing strategies and enumerated underlying mechanisms will thus need to be re-evaluated for the assessment of these horizon materials. This review will present a critical discussion on the altered physicochemical properties of nanohybrids and analyze the validity of existing nanotoxicology data against these unique properties. The article will also propose strategies to evaluate the conjugate materials' safety to help undertake future toxicological research on the nanohybrid material class.

Nanometer precise adjustment of the silver shell thickness during automated Au-Ag core-shell nanoparticle synthesis in micro fluid segment sequences

In this work, a wet-chemical synthesis method for gold-silver core-shell particles with nanometer precise adjustable silver shell thicknesses is presented. Typically wet-chemical syntheses lead to relatively large diameter size distributions and losses in the yield of the desired particle structure due to thermodynamical effects. With the here explained synthesis method in micro fluidic segment sequences, a combinatorial in situ parameter screening of the reactant concentration ratios by programmed flow rate shifts in conjunction with efficient segment internal mixing conditions is possible. The highly increased mixing rates ensure a homogeneous shell deposition on all presented gold core particles while the amount of available silver ions was adjusted by automated flow rate courses, from which the synthesis conditions for exactly tunable shell thicknesses between 1.1 and 6.1 nm could be derived. The findings according to the homogeneity of size and particle structure were confirmed by differential centrifugal sedimentation (DCS), scanning and transmission electron microscopy (SEM, TEM) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) measurements. In UV-Vis measurements, a significant contribution of the core metal was found in the shape of the extinction spectra in the case of thin shells. These results were confirmed by theoretical calculations.

Synthesis of silver nanostructures by multistep methods

The shape of plasmonic nanostructures such as silver and gold is vital to their physical and chemical properties and potential applications. Recently, preparation of complex nanostructures with rich function by chemical multistep methods is the hotspot of research. In this review we introduce three typical multistep methods to prepare silver nanostructures with well-controlled shapes, including the double reductant method, etching technique and construction of core-shell nanostructures. The growth mechanism of double the reductant method is that different favorable facets of silver nanocrystals are produced in different reductants, which can be used to prepare complex nanostructures such as nanoflags with ultranarrow resonant band bandwidth or some silver nanostructures which are difficult to prepare using other methods. The etching technique can selectively remove nanoparticles to achieve the aim of shape control and is widely used for the synthesis of nanoflowers and hollow nanostructures. Construction of core-shell nanostructures is another tool to control shape and size. The three methods can not only prepare various silver nanostructures with well-controlled shapes, which exhibit unique optical properties, such as strong surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) signal and localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) effect, but also have potential application in many areas.

Controllable preparation of core-shell Au-Ag nanoshuttles with improved refractive index sensitivity and SERS activity

Recent studies have conclusively shown that the plasmonic performance of Au nanostructures can be enhanced by incorporating Ag. Here, we developed a simple and robust approach for preparing core-shell Au-Ag nanoshuttles (NSs) using single-crystal Au nanorods (NRs) as cores. Upon tailoring the temperature of the reaction system containing alkaline glycine buffer (pH 8.5), exceptionally monodisperse Au-Ag NSs with sharp tips and tunable shell thickness could be routinely achieved in high yield through an epitaxial growth process. In particular, high-resolution transmission electron microscopy and nitric acid corrosive experiments revealed that the shells of these NSs consisted of a homogeneous Au-Ag alloy, rather than pure Ag or Au as previously reported. It was found that glycine played an important role in determining the final metal contents of the shell by regulating the reduction kinetics. In addition, the obatined Au-Ag NSs with sharp tips were shown to have significantly improved refractive index sensitivity and surface-enhanced Raman scattering activity relative to the original Au NRs, making these materials promising for biomedical applications, such as biosensing and biolabeling.

Ascorbic-acid-assisted growth of high quality M@ZnO: a growth mechanism and kinetics study

We present a general route for synthesizing M@ZnO nanoparticles (NPs) by using ascorbic acid (AA) to induce deposition of ZnO on various shaped and structured cationic-surfactant-capped NP surfaces (noble, magnetic, semiconductor, rod-like, spherical, cubic, dendrite, alloy, core@shell). The results show that the complexing (AA and Zn(2+)) and cooperative effects (AA and CTAB) play important roles in the formation of polycrystalline ZnO shells. Besides, the growth kinetics of M@ZnO was systematically studied. It was found that the slow growth rate favors the successful formation of uniform core@ZnO NPs with relatively loose shells. An appropriate growth rate allows achieving high quality M@ZnO NPs with dense shells. However, very fast growth causes significant additional nucleation and the formation of pure ZnO NPs. This general method is suitable for preparing M@ZnO using seed NPs prepared in both water and organic phases. It might be an alternative route for functionalizing NPs for bioapplications (ZnO is biocompatible), modulating material properties as designed, or synthesizing template materials for building other nanostructures.

Size tunable Au@Ag core-shell nanoparticles: synthesis and surface-enhanced Raman scattering properties

We describe a simple and efficient methodology for the aqueous synthesis of stable, uniform, and size tunable Au@Ag core-shell nanoparticles (NPs) that are stabilized by citrate ions. The synthetic route is based on the stepwise Ag reduction on preformed Au NPs. The final size of the core-shell NPs and therefore their optical properties can be modulated at least from 30 to 110 nm by either tuning the Ag shell thickness or changing the size of the Au core. The optical properties of the Au@Ag core-shell NPs resemble those of pure Ag NPs of similar sizes, which was confirmed by means of Mie extinction calculations. We additionally evaluated the surface-enhanced raman scattering (SERS) enhancing properties of Au@Ag core-shell NP colloids with three different laser lines (532, 633, and 785 nm). Importantly, such core-shell NPs also exhibit a higher SERS efficiency than Ag NPs of similar size under near-infrared excitation. The results obtained here serve as a basis to select Au@Ag core-shell NPs of specific size and composition with maximum SERS efficiency at their respective excitation wavelengths for SERS-based analytical and bioimaging applications.

The relevance of light in the formation of colloidal metal nanoparticles

"The possibility of using colloidal silver and gold as condensors for electron storage in artificial photosynthesis has prompted the recent renewed interest in these areas." This statement by Fendler and co-workers in 1983 is even more relevant in today's science and technology. In this tutorial review we summarize research regarding the use of light in the synthesis of metallic nanoparticles. We describe how light of different energies induces a variety of chemical events that culminate in the nucleation and growth of metal nanocrystals. Light can thus be used as a handle to direct metal nanocrystal growth and improve tunability and reproducibility.

Solid state pathways to complex shape evolution and tunable porosity during metallic crystal growth

Growing complex metallic crystals, supported high index facet nanocrystal composites and tunable porosity metals, and exploiting factors that influence shape and morphology is crucial in many exciting developments in chemistry, catalysis, biotechnology and nanoscience. Assembly, organization and ordered crystallization of nanostructures into complex shapes requires understanding of the building blocks and their association, and this relationship can define the many physical properties of crystals and their assemblies. Understanding crystal evolution pathways is required for controlled deposition onto surfaces. Here, complex metallic crystals on the nano- and microscale, carbon supported nanoparticles, and spinodal porous noble metals with defined inter-feature distances in 3D, are accomplished in the solid-state for Au, Ag, Pd, and Re. Bottom-up growth and positioning is possible through competitive coarsening of mobile nanoparticles and their site-specific crystallization in a nucleation-dewetted matrix. Shape evolution, density and growth mechanism of complex metallic crystals and porous metals can be imaged during growth.

Three-dimensional elemental mapping at the atomic scale in bimetallic nanocrystals

A thorough understanding of the three-dimensional (3D) atomic structure and composition of core-shell nanostructures is indispensable to obtain a deeper insight on their physical behavior. Such 3D information can be reconstructed from two-dimensional (2D) projection images using electron tomography. Recently, different electron tomography techniques have enabled the 3D characterization of a variety of nanostructures down to the atomic level. However, these methods have all focused on the investigation of nanomaterials containing only one type of chemical element. Here, we combine statistical parameter estimation theory with compressive sensing based tomography to determine the positions and atom type of each atom in heteronanostructures. The approach is applied here to investigate the interface in core-shell Au@Ag nanorods but it is of great interest in the investigation of a broad range of nanostructures.

Gold nanorods and their plasmonic properties

Gold nanorods have been receiving extensive attention owing to their extremely attractive applications in biomedical technologies, plasmon-enhanced spectroscopies, and optical and optoelectronic devices. The growth methods and plasmonic properties of Au nanorods have therefore been intensively studied. In this review, we present a comprehensive overview of the flourishing field of Au nanorods in the past five years. We will focus mainly on the approaches for the growth, shape and size tuning, functionalization, and assembly of Au nanorods, as well as the methods for the preparation of their hybrid structures. The plasmonic properties and the associated applications of Au nanorods will also be discussed in detail.

Core-shell noble metal nanostructures templated by gold nanorods

The main research progress in core-shell noble metal nanostructures templated by gold nanorods (Au NRs) is summarized regarding synthesis, optical, and catalytic properties. Design and fabrication of core-shell hybrid nanostructures are demonstrated to be effective not only for optimizing and expanding intrinsic properties but also for creating novel localized surface plasmon enhanced optical and catalytic functionalities, thus providing great prospects in both fundamental research and potential applications.

Photochemical synthesis of noble metal (Ag, Pd, Au, Pt) on graphene/ZnO multihybrid nanoarchitectures as electrocatalysis for H2O2 reduction

For the first time, a series of noble metal (Ag, Au, Pd, and Pt) nanoparticles (NPs) based on new functional graphene were successfully achieved via UV-assisted photocatalytic reduction by ZnO nanorods. The whole preparation strategy for constructing noble metal deposited graphene sheets/ZnO (GS/ZnO) was elucidated in detail in this work. First, graphene oxide based two-dimensional carbon nanostructures served as a support to disperse ZnO nanorods through a hydrothermal route. The ZnO nanorods were self-assembled onto the surface of graphene sheets, forming GS/ZnO nanocomposite, and the graphene oxide was reduced, yielding reduced graphene sheets in this synthetic procedure. Second, the GS/ZnO films were further employed as supporting materials for the dispersion of metal nanoparticles. Photogenerated electrons from UV-irradiated ZnO were transported across GS to stepwise and respectively reduce v μL metal ions (Ag(+), Pd(2+), AuCl4(-), PtCl6(2-), 20 mg/mL) into metal (Ag, Pd, Au, Pt) NPs at a location distinct from the ZnO anchored site, forming five graphene-based hybrid nanocomposites designated as GS/ZnO, GS/ZnO@Agv, GS/ZnO@Pdv, GS/ZnO@Auv, GS/ZnO@Ptv, respectively. The obtained mutihybrid nanoarchitectured materials were clearly characterized by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD). According to the diameters and distribution, the four metal NPs on GS/ZnO were divided into two categories: Ag&Au and Pd&Pt. Their difference was rooted in the rival abilities of gathering electron between graphene and different metal islands in the photochemical reduction process. The electrochemical behaviors of the five resultant hybrid nanocomposites were investigated in H2O2 as well as in potassium ferricyanide (Fe(CN)6(3-/4-)) and displayed distinct electrocatalytic activity.

TiO2 coated Au/Ag nanorods with enhanced photocatalytic activity under visible light irradiation

A facile method was used to prepare uniform Au NR/TiO2 and Au/Ag NR/TiO2 core-shell composite nanoparticles. Au/Ag NR/TiO2 nanoparticles were found to display significantly enhanced visible light photo-catalytic activity compared to Au NR/TiO2 and the commercially available TiO2 nanoparticles. The enhancement mechanism was ascribed to injection of hot electrons of photo-excited Au/Ag NRs to TiO2, which was confirmed by 633 nm laser induced reduction of silver ions on the surface of Au/Ag NR/TiO2 composite nanoparticles.

Formation of one-dimensional Ag-Au solid solution colloids with Au nanorods as seeds, their alloying mechanisms, and surface plasmon resonances

In this work, one dimensional (1D) Ag-Au solid solution nanoalloys were synthesized by rapidly diffusing Ag into the preformed Au nanorod (AuNR) seeds at ambient temperature in aqueous solution. By varying the molar ratio of AgCl/AuNR (in gold atoms), two kinds of 1D Ag-Au alloy nanostructures with a narrow size distribution--AgAu nanowires and Ag(33)Au(67) nanorods--could be obtained in high yields when NaCl and polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) were used as an additive and capping reagent, respectively. Based on HRTEM imaging combined with a series of control experiments, it is conceivable that vacancy/defect-motivated interdiffusion of Ag and Au atoms coupled with oxidative etching is a crucial stage in the mechanism responsible for this room-temperature alloying process, and the subsequent conjugation of the fused Ag-Au alloyed nanostructures is associated with the formation of the AgAu nanowires. The resulting 1D Ag-Au nanoalloys form stable colloidal dispersions and show unique localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) peaks in the ensemble extinction spectra.

Highly monodisperse rattle-structured nanomaterials with gold nanorod core-mesoporous silica shell as drug delivery vehicles and nanoreactors

Rattle-structured nanomaterials composed of a gold nanorod in a mesoporous silica nanocapsule (AuNR@mSiO(2)) were prepared by a novel solution-based consecutive process. The drug-loading properties of the nanomaterial and regrowth control of the core nanoparticles were also studied.

Multimode resonances in silver nanocuboids

A rich variety of dipolar and higher order plasmon resonances have been predicted for nanoscale cubes and parallopipeds of silver, in contrast to the simple dipolar modes found on silver nanospheres or nanorods. However, in general, these multimode resonances are not readily detected in experimental colloidal ensembles, due primarily to the usual variation of size and shape of the particles obscuring or blending the individual extinction peaks. Recently, methods have been found to prepare silver parallopipeds with unprecedented shape control by nucleating the silver onto a tightly controlled suspension of gold nanorods (Okuno, Y.; Nishioka, K.; Kiya, A.; Nakashima, N.; Ishibashi, A.; Niidome, Y. Uniform and Controllable Preparation of Au-Ag Core-Shell Nanorods Using Anisotropic Silver Shell Formation on Gold Nanorods. Nanoscale 2010, 2, 1489-1493). The optical extinction spectra of suspensions of such monodisperse particles are found to contain multiple extinction peaks, which we show here to be due to the multimode resonances predicted by theoretical studies. Control of the radius of the nanoparticle edges is found to be an effective way to turn some of these modes on or off. These nanoparticles provide a flexible platform for the excitation, manipulation, and exploration of higher order plasmon resonances.

Synthesis of Au@Ag core-shell nanocubes containing varying shaped cores and their localized surface plasmon resonances

We have synthesized Au@Ag core-shell nanocubes containing Au cores with varying shapes and sizes through modified seed-mediated methods. Bromide ions are found to be crucial in the epitaxial growth of Ag atoms onto Au cores and in the formation of the shell's cubic shape. The Au@Ag core-shell nanocubes exhibit very abundant and distinct localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) properties, which are core-shape and size-dependent. With the help of theoretical calculation, the physical origin and the resonance mode profile of each LSPR peak are identified and studied. The core-shell nanocrystals with varying shaped cores offer a new rich category for LSPR control through the plasmonic coupling effect between core and shell materials.

Selective etching induces selective growth and controlled formation of various platinum nanostructures by modifying seed surface free energy

We present a strategy to achieve heterogeneous seeded growth on nanoparticle (NP) surfaces and construct various Pt nanostructures (cage- and ring-like) by using selective etching as surface-free-energy-distribution modifier. Preprepared Au polyhedron NPs (octahedron, decahedron, nanorod, and nanoplate) are mixed with KI, H(2)PtCl(6), and surfactant. Under heating, KI is first oxidized to I(2), which then selectively etches the edges of Au polyhedrons. Consequently, the partial removal of surface Au atoms creates highly active sites (exposed high-index facets, atom steps, and kinks) on the etched edges. Then the reduced Pt(0) atoms deposit on the etched edges preferentially and grow further, generating bimetallic nanostructures, Au octahedrons, or decahedrons with edges coated by Pt. The Pt layer protects the Au on the etched edges against further etching, changing the etching route and causing the Au on {111} facets without a Pt layer to be etched. After the Au is removed completely from the bimetallic nanostructures, ring-like, frame-like, and octahedral cage-like Pt nanostructures form. The evolution from Au polyhedrons to Pt ring or octahedron cage is investigated systematically by high-resolution transmission electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, energy-dispersive X-ray, scanning transmission electron microscopy, and high-angle annular dark field.

Geometry control and optical tunability of metal-cuprous oxide core-shell nanoparticles

Metal-semiconductor hybrid heteronanostructures may exhibit synergistically reinforced optical responses and significantly enhanced optical tunability that essentially arise from the unique nanoscale interactions between the metal and semiconductor components. Elaboration of multi-component hybrid nanoparticles allows us to achieve optimized or diversified material functionalities through precise control over the dimension and morphology of the constituent building units, on one hand, and through engineering their relative geometrical arrangement and interfacial structures, on the other hand. Here we study the geometry-dependent optical characteristics of metal-cuprous oxide (Cu(2)O) core-shell hybrid nanoparticles in great detail through combined experimental and theoretical efforts. We demonstrate that several important geometrical parameters, such as shell thickness, shell crystallinity, shell porosity, and core composition, of the hybrid nanoparticles can be tailored in a highly precise and controllable manner through robust wet chemistry approaches. The tight control over the particle geometries provides unique opportunities for us to develop quantitative understanding of how the dimensions, morphologies, and electronic properties of the semiconducting shells and the geometry and compositions of the metallic cores affect the plasmon resonance frequencies, the light scattering and absorption cross sections, and the overall extinction spectral line shapes of the hybrid nanoparticles. Mie scattering theory calculations provide further insights into the origin of the geometrically tunable optical responses and the interesting extinction spectral line shapes of the hybrid nanoparticles that we have experimentally observed.

Recent progress in the synthesis of inorganic nanoparticles

Nanoparticles probably constitute the largest class of nanomaterials. Nanoparticles of several inorganic materials have been prepared by employing a variety of synthetic strategies. Besides synthesizing nanoparticles, there has been considerable effort to selectively prepare nanoparticles of different shapes. In view of the great interest in inorganic nanoparticles evinced in the last few years, we have prepared this perspective on the present status of the synthesis of inorganic nanoparticles. This article includes a brief discussion of methods followed by reports on the synthesis of nanoparticles of various classes of inorganic materials such as metals, alloys, oxides chalcogenides and pnictides. A brief section on core-shell nanoparticles is also included.

Metallic nanobowls by galvanic replacement reaction on heterodimeric nanoparticles

Well-defined metallic nanobowls can be prepared by extending the concept of a protecting group to colloidal synthesis. Magnetic nanoparticles are employed as "protecting groups" during the galvanic replacement of silver with gold. The replacement reaction is accompanied by spontantous dissociation of the protecting groups, leaving behind metallic nanobowls.

Correlating electron tomography and plasmon spectroscopy of single noble metal core-shell nanoparticles

The 3D structure reconstruction of gold core-silver shell nanoparticles by electron tomography is combined with optical dark-field spectroscopy. Electron tomography allows segmentation of the particles into core and shell subvolumes and facilitates avoiding Bragg diffraction artifacts inherent in 2D images. This advantage proves essential for accurate correlation of plasmon spectra and structure. We find that for the nanoparticles of near-spherical shape studied here the plasmon resonances depend on the relative size of the core and shell, rather than on their exact shapes and concentricity. A remarkable dependence of the spectral shape on the permittivity of the surrounding medium is also demonstrated, suggesting that core-shell nanoparticles can be used as ratiometric sensors with a very high dynamic range.

Controlled assembly of plasmonic colloidal nanoparticle clusters

Coupling of localized surface plasmon resonances results in singular effects at the void space between noble metal nanoparticles. However, implementation of practical applications based on plasmon coupling calls for the high yield production of metal nanoparticle clusters (dimers, trimers, tetramers, …) with small gaps. Therefore, controlled assembly using colloid chemistry methods is an emerging and promising field. We present a brief overview over the controlled assembly of plasmonic nanoparticle clusters by colloid chemistry methods, together with a description of their plasmonic properties and some applications, with an emphasis in sensing through surface-enhanced Raman scattering spectroscopy for bio-detection purposes. We point out the important role of separation methods to obtain colloidal clusters in high yield. A special encouragement to explore assembly of anisotropic building blocks is pursued.