Seeded-Growth Aqueous Synthesis of Colloidal-Stable Citrate-Stabilized Au/CeO2 Hybrid Nanocrystals : Heterodimers, Core@Shell, and Clover- And Star-Like Structures
Piella, Jordi (Institut Català de Nanociència i Nanotecnologia)
González Febles, Ana (Institut Català de Nanociència i Nanotecnologia)
Patarroyo, Javier (Institut Català de Nanociència i Nanotecnologia)
Arbiol i Cobos, Jordi (Institut Català de Nanociència i Nanotecnologia)
Bastús, Neus G. (Institut Català de Nanociència i Nanotecnologia)
Puntes, Víctor (Institut Català de Nanociència i Nanotecnologia)

Date:	2019
Abstract:	Well-defined colloidal-stable citrate-stabilized Au/CeO hybrid nanocrystals (NCs) with coherent quasi-epitaxial interfaces and unprecedented control of their architectural and morphological characteristics have been synthesized via a novel and straightforward seeded-growth aqueous approach. The synthetic strategy, based on the identification of the experimental conditions under which the heterogeneous nucleation and growth processes of CeO onto presynthesized Au are controlled, allows for the fine adjustment of each individual domain in the structure, particularly the size of the Au core (from 5 to 100 nm), the thickness of the CeO shell (from 5 to 20 nm), and the growth mode of CeO onto Au NCs (from core@shell to heterodimer, clover- and star-like structures). This morphological control is achieved by the rational use of sodium citrate, which plays multiple key roles, as a reducer and stabilizing agent in the preparation of Au NCs, and as a complexing agent of Ce for its controlled oxidation and hydrolysis during the subsequent CeO deposition. The resultant Au/CeO NCs remain stable and well-dispersed in water, allowing us to study the impact of fine variations of the NC structure on the underlying optical response. This level of morphological control, as well as the ease by which such well-defined nanostructures are produced, opens new opportunities for systematically investigating the interactions between individual components in designing more advanced complex NCs. Remarkably, because no organic solvents are used and no toxic waste is formed during the reaction, the proposed synthesis method can be defined as sustainable, viable, and cost-effective.
Grants:	Agencia Estatal de Investigación RTI2018-099965-B-I00 European Commission 685817 Agència de Gestió d'Ajuts Universitaris i de Recerca 2017/SGR-1431 Agència de Gestió d'Ajuts Universitaris i de Recerca 2017/SGR-327 Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad MAT2015-70725-R Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad ENE2017-85087-C3 Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad RYC-2012-10991 Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad SEV-2017-0706
Rights:	Aquest material està protegit per drets d'autor i/o drets afins. Podeu utilitzar aquest material en funció del que permet la legislació de drets d'autor i drets afins d'aplicació al vostre cas. Per a d'altres usos heu d'obtenir permís del(s) titular(s) de drets.
Language:	Anglès
Document:	Article ; recerca ; Versió sotmesa a revisió
Subject:	Controlled oxidations ; Epitaxial interfaces ; Experimental conditions ; Heterogeneous nucleation and growth ; Individual components ; Morphological characteristic ; Morphological control ; Synthetic strategies
Published in:	Chemistry of materials, Vol. 31, Issue 19 (October 2019) , p. 7922-7932, ISSN 1520-5002

DOI: 10.1021/acs.chemmater.9b02005

Preprint 21 p, 2.5 MB

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Research literature > UAB research groups literature > Research Centres and Groups (research output) > Experimental sciences > Catalan Institute of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology (ICN2)
Articles > Research articles
Articles > Published articles