Aqueous-Phase Synthesis of Single-Crystal Pd Seeds 3 nm in Diameter and Their Use for the Growth of Pd Nanocrystals with Different Shapes

Bipyramidal Nanocrystals of Noble Metals: From Synthesis to Applications

Shape control has been a major theme of nanocrystal research in terms of synthesis, property tailoring, and optimization of performance in a variety of applications. Among the possible shapes, bipyramids are unique owing to their symmetry, planar defects, and exposed facets. In this article, we focus on the colloidal synthesis of noble-metal nanocrystals featuring a triangular bipyramidal shape, together with highlights of their properties and applications. We start with a brief discussion of the general classification and requirements for the nucleation and growth of bipyramidal nanocrystals, followed by specific aspects regarding the synthetic methods with a focus on the roles of reduction, etching, and capping, as well as controls of facet, size, aspect ratio, and corner truncation. In the end, we illustrate how these aspects affect the properties of bipyramidal nanocrystals for plasmonic and catalytic applications, together with future perspectives.

Quantitative Study on the Influence of Bromide Ions toward the Reduction Kinetics for Size-Tunable Palladium Nanocubes

During the preparation of nanocrystals, regulating the dosage of key additives in the reaction system and the reaction temperature commonly affects the sizes and morphologies of the products. Despite the fact that bromide ions play a pivotal role in the synthesis of palladium nanocubes (Pd NCs), there is still a lack of quantitative and in-depth research on how the ions affect the reduction kinetics of Pd precursors and further on products. In this work, Pd NCs with different sizes have been prepared under various reaction conditions coupled to a systematic mechanism study. Quantitative measurements demonstrate that the reduction processes could be considered quasi-first-order reactions, and the corresponding kinetic parameters have been obtained. Furthermore, a linear relationship is discovered between k and the average size (d) of Pd NCs. The investigation on the growth patterns of four chosen systems reveals that given reaction conditions lead to certain results with unique growth patterns.

Shape Transformation via Etching and Regrowth: A Systematic Study of Pd Nanocrystals with Different Shapes and Twin Structures

This article describes a systematic study of the oxidative etching and regrowth behaviors of Pd nanocrystals, including single-crystal cubes bounded by {100} facets, single-crystal octahedra and tetrahedra enclosed by {111} facets; and multiple-twinned icosahedra covered by {111} facets and twin boundaries. During etching, Pd atoms are preferentially oxidized and removed from the corners regardless of the type of nanocrystal, and the resultant Pd2+ ions are then reduced back to elemental Pd. For cubes and icosahedra, the newly formed Pd atoms are deposited on the {100} facets and twin boundaries, respectively, due to their relatively higher energies. For octahedra and tetrahedra, the Pd atoms self-nucleate in the solution phase, followed by their growth into small particles. We can control the regrowth rate relative to etching rate by varying the concentration of HCl in the reaction solution. As the concentration of HCl is increased, 18-nm Pd cubes are transformed into octahedra of 23, 18, and 13 nm, respectively, in edge length. Due to the absence of regrowth, however, Pd octahedra are transformed into truncated octahedra, cuboctahedra, and spheres with decreasing sizes whereas Pd tetrahedra evolve into truncated tetrahedra and spheres. In contrast, Pd icosahedra with twin boundaries on the surface are converted to asymmetric icosahedra, flower-like icosahedra, and spheres. This work not only advances the understanding of etching and growth behaviors of metal nanocrystals with various shapes and twin structures but also offers an alternative method for controlling their shape and size.

Synthesizable nanoparticle eigenshapes for colloidal crystals

The gulf between the complexity and diversity of colloidal crystal phases predicted to form in computer simulation and that realized to date in experiment is narrowing, but is still wide. Prior work shows that many synthesized particles are far from optimal "eigenshapes" for target superlattice structures. We use digital alchemy to determine eigenshapes for possible target colloidal crystal structures for eight families of polyhedral nanoparticle shapes already synthesized in the laboratory. Within each family we predict optimal building block shapes to obtain several target superlattice structures, as a guide for future experiments. For three target crystal structures common to multiple families, we identify which of the optimal shapes is most optimal under the same thermodynamic conditions.

Separating Growth from Nucleation for Facile Control over the Size and Shape of Palladium Nanocrystals

In order to maximize the performance of nanocrystals in a specific application, it is necessary to control both their size and shape. Here we report a one-pot protocol that allows us to separate growth from nucleation for achieving better control over the size and shape of Pd nanocrystals. The two processes are temporally separated from each other, although the synthesis is carried out in the same reaction container. Size control is achieved by simply varying the ratio between the amounts of precursor allocated to the growth and nucleation processes. With the involvement of seeds at a fixed number, increasing the amount of precursor for growth leads to increasingly larger nanocrystals. Shape control is made possible by varying the capping agent, with bromide leading to a cubic shape and citrate inducing the formation of an octahedral shape. The synthesis can also be scaled up by at least tenfold without compromising the quality.

Synthesis of Colloidal Metal Nanocrystals: A Comprehensive Review on the Reductants

There is a growing interest in controlling the synthesis of colloidal metal nanocrystals and thus tailoring their properties toward various applications. In this context, choosing an appropriate combination of reagents (e.g., salt precursor, reductant, capping agent, and stabilizer) plays a pivotal role in enabling the synthesis of metal nanocrystals with diversified sizes, shapes, and structures. Here we present a comprehensive review that highlights one of the key reagents for the synthesis of metal nanocrystals via chemical reduction: the reductants. We start with a brief introduction to the compounds commonly employed as reductants in the colloidal synthesis of metal nanocrystals by showing their oxidation half-reactions and the corresponding oxidation potentials. Then we offer specific examples pertaining to the controlled synthesis of metal nanocrystals, followed by some fundamental aspects covering the general mechanisms of metal ion reduction based on the Marcus Theory. Afterwards, we present a case-by-case discussion on a wide variety of reductants, including their major properties, reduction mechanisms, and additional effects on the final products. We illustrate these aspects by selecting key examples from the literature and paying close attention to the underlying mechanism in each case. At the end, we conclude by summarizing the highlights of the review and providing some perspectives on future directions.

Nanocluster-Mediated Synthesis of Diverse ZnTe Nanostructures: from Nanocrystals to 1D Nanobelts

Liquid phase one-pot synthesis of semiconductor nanocrystals, by direct nucleation-growth crystallization, is unsuccessful for synthesis of some kinds of semiconductors. Using ZnTe as an example here, highly disperse ZnTe nanoclusters with diameters of 2-3 nm were first synthesized by a facile solvothermal method. Then the ZnTe nanoclusters were chosen as starting crystallization seeds to mediate the synthesis of flexible semiconductor nanostructures. Three-dimensional (3D) oriented assembly of ZnTe nanoclusters to monodisperse dendrimer-like nanocrystals (DLNCs), and one-dimensional (1D) ZnTe nanobelts with cubic phase, have been achieved successfully. Supported by TEM characterization of time-dependent morphology evolution, the oriented attachment assisted seed growth, based on ZnTe nanoclusters, enabled the 1D flexible ZnTe nanobelts formation, which could reach to ≈10 micrometers length.

Metal Bromide Controlled Interfacial Aromatization Reaction for Shape-Selective Synthesis of Palladium Nanostructures with Efficient Catalytic Performances

Herein, the effect of diverse metal bromides for the shape evolution of palladium nanostructures (Pd NS) has been demonstrated. Aromaticity-driven reduction of bromopalladate(II) is optimized to reproducibly obtain different Pd NS at the water/organic layer interface. In this soft interfacial strategy, a redox potential driven reaction has been performed, forming the thermodynamically more stable (>10(4) -fold) PdBr4 (2-) precursor from PdCl4 (2-) by adding extra metal bromides. In the process, the reductant, Hantzsch dihydropyridine ester (DHPE), is aromatized. Interestingly, alkali metal bromides devoid of coordination propensity exclusively evolve Pd nanowires (Pd NWs), whereas in the case of transition metal bromides the metal ions engage the 'N' donor of DHPE at the interface, making the redox reaction sluggish. Hence, controlled Pd nanoparticles growth is observed, which evolves Pd broccolis (Pd NBRs) and Pd nanorods (Pd NRs) at the interface in the presence of NiBr2 and CuBr2 , respectively, in the aqueous solution. Thus, the effect of diverse metal bromides in the reaction mixture for tailor-made growth of the various Pd NS is reported. Among the as-synthesized materials, the Pd NWs stand to be superior catalysts and their efficiency is almost 6 and 2.5 times higher than commercial 20 % Pd/C in the electrooxidation of ethanol and Cr(VI) reduction reaction by formic acid, respectively.

Seedless Growth of Palladium Nanocrystals with Tunable Structures: From Tetrahedra to Nanosheets

Despite the great success that has been accomplished on the controlled synthesis of Pd nanocrystals with various sizes and morphologies, an efficient approach to systematic production of well-defined Pd nanocrystals without seed-mediated approaches remains a significant challenge. In this work, we have developed an efficient synthetic method to directly produce Pd nanocrystals with a highly controllable feature. Three distinct Pd nanocrystals, namely, Pd nanosheets, Pd concave tetrahedra, and Pd tetrahedra, have been selectively prepared by simply introducing a small amount of ascorbic acid (AA) and/or water without the other synthesis conditions changed. We found that the combined use of AA and water is of importance for the successful production of the unique Pd nanosheets. Detailed catalytic investigations showed that all the obtained Pd nanocrystals exhibit higher activity in the formic acid electrooxidation and styrene hydrogenation with respect to the Pd black, and their activities are highly shape-dependent with Pd nanosheets demonstrating a higher activity than both the Pd concave tetrahedra and Pd tetrahedra, which is likely due to the simple yet important feature of ultrathin thickness of Pd nanosheets. The present work highlights the importance of structures in tuning the related properties of metallic nanocrystals.

Ru-assisted synthesis of Pd/Ru nanodendrites with high activity for ethanol electrooxidation

Due to the specific physical and chemical properties of a highly branched noble metal, the controllable synthesis has attracted much attention. This article reports the synthesis of Pd/Ru nanodendrites by a facile method using an oil bath in the presence of polyvinyl pyrrolidone, potassium bromide and ascorbic acid. The morphology, structure, and composition of the as-prepared catalysts were characterized by means of X-ray diffraction, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and transmission electron microscopy. In the electrochemical measurement, the as-prepared Pd7/Ru1 bimetallic nanodendrites provide a large electrochemically active surface area and exhibit high peak current density in the forward scan toward ethanol electrooxidation, which is nearly four times higher than those of a pure Pd catalyst. The as-prepared Pd7/Ru1 catalysts also exhibit significantly enhanced cycling stability toward ethanol oxidation in alkaline medium, which are mainly ascribed to the synergetic effect between Pd and Ru. This indicates that the Pd7/Ru1 catalysts should have great potential applications in direct ethanol fuel cells.

Kinetically-controlled growth of cubic and octahedral Rh-Pd alloy oxygen reduction electrocatalysts with high activity and durability

Rh is a promising candidate as an indispensible component in bimetallic catalysts due to its unique capability to resist against the aggressive corrosion from the reaction medium. However, Rh has a very strong oxygen binding ability and is generally not suitable for the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR). Here, we have demonstrated shape-controlled synthesis of Rh-Pd alloy nanocrystals with high activity and durability for ORR by retarding the reaction kinetics at an ultra-slow injection rate of metal salts using a syringe pump. Under precise control of sluggish reaction kinetics, Pd followed a preferential overgrowth along the <100> direction, whereas the growth behavior of Rh was dominant along the <111> direction. These different kinetically-controlled growth behaviors associated with Rh and Pd were essential for achieving the shape transition between the cube and the octahedron of their alloys. The Rh8Pd92 alloy octahedra exhibited the highest mass activity with a value of 0.18 mA μg(-1) in terms of the equivalent Pt cost, and were two-fold higher than that of commercial Pt/C. Significantly, all Rh-Pd alloy nanocrystals were highly stable with only less than 25% loss in mass activity after 30,000 CV cycles in O2 saturated acid solution compared to ∼ 56% loss of the commercial Pt/C (E-TEK). Indeed, the mass activity of Rh8Pd92 was 3.3 times higher than that of commercial Pt/C after the accelerated stability test (ADT). This improvement in activity and durability may arise possibly from synergistic effects between the facet and the surface composition.

Polyol syntheses of palladium decahedra and icosahedra as pure samples by maneuvering the reaction kinetics with additives

This article reports a robust method based upon polyol reduction for the deterministic synthesis of Pd decahedra or icosahedra with tunable sizes and a purity approaching 100%. The success of such a selective synthesis relies on an ability to fine-tune the reaction kinetics through the addition of Na2SO4 and HCl for decahedra and icosahedra, respectively. In the absence of any additive, the product of a similar synthesis in diethylene glycol contained 10% decahedra and 90% icosahedra. By optimizing the amount of Na2SO4 (or HCl) added into the reaction solution, the percent of decahedra (or icosahedra) in the product could be increased up to 100%. The roles of Na2SO4 and HCl were also investigated in great detail, and two plausible mechanisms were proposed and validated through a set of experiments. In general, a faster reduction rate is needed for the synthesis of Pd decahedra when compared with what is needed for Pd icosahedra. This work not only offers a simple approach to the deterministic syntheses of Pd decahedra and icosahedra but also provides an in-depth understanding of the mechanisms involved in shape-controlled syntheses of noble-metal nanocrystals from the perspective of reaction kinetics. On the basis of the mechanistic understanding, we have also achieved successful synthesis of Pd decahedra as pure samples by adding a proper amount of NaOH into the system to speed up the reduction kinetics.

Effective decoration of Pd nanoparticles on the surface of SnO2 nanowires for enhancement of CO gas-sensing performance

Decoration of noble metal nanoparticles (NPs) on the surface of semiconducting metal oxide nanowires (NWs) to enhance material characteristics, functionalization, and sensing abilities has attracted increasing interests from researchers worldwide. In this study, we introduce an effective method for the decoration of Pd NPs on the surface of SnO2 NWs to enhance CO gas-sensing performance. Single-crystal SnO2 NWs were fabricated by chemical vapor deposition, whereas Pd NPs were decorated on the surface of SnO2 NWs by in situ reduction of the Pd complex at room temperature without using any linker or reduction agent excepting the copolymer P123. The materials were characterized by advanced techniques, such as high-resolution transmission electron microscopy, scanning transmission electron microscopy, and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy. The Pd NPs were effectively decorated on the surface of SnO2 NWs. As an example, the CO sensing characteristics of SnO2 NWs decorated with Pd NPs were investigated at different temperatures. Results revealed that the gas sensor exhibited excellent sensing performance to CO at low concentration (1-25ppm) with ultrafast response-recovery time (in seconds), high responsivity, good stability, and reproducibility.