Issue 14, 2016

Shape-controlled continuous synthesis of metal nanostructures

Abstract

A segmented flow-based microreactor is used for the continuous production of faceted nanocrystals. Flow segmentation is proposed as a versatile tool to manipulate the reduction kinetics and control the growth of faceted nanostructures; tuning the size and shape. Switching the gas from oxygen to carbon monoxide permits the adjustment in nanostructure growth from 1D (nanorods) to 2D (nanosheets). CO is a key factor in the formation of Pd nanosheets and Pt nanocubes; operating as a second phase, a reductant, and a capping agent. This combination confines the growth to specific structures. In addition, the segmented flow microfluidic reactor inherently has the ability to operate in a reproducible manner at elevated temperatures and pressures whilst confining potentially toxic reactants, such as CO, in nanoliter slugs. This continuous system successfully synthesised Pd nanorods with an aspect ratio of 6; thin palladium nanosheets with a thickness of 1.5 nm; and Pt nanocubes with a 5.6 nm edge length, all in a synthesis time as low as 150 s.

Graphical abstract: Shape-controlled continuous synthesis of metal nanostructures

Supplementary files

Article information

Article type
Paper
Submitted
01 des 2015
Accepted
10 feb 2016
First published
01 mar 2016
This article is Open Access
Creative Commons BY license

Nanoscale, 2016,8, 7534-7543

Shape-controlled continuous synthesis of metal nanostructures

V. Sebastian, C. D. Smith and K. F. Jensen, Nanoscale, 2016, 8, 7534 DOI: 10.1039/C5NR08531D

This article is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported Licence. You can use material from this article in other publications without requesting further permissions from the RSC, provided that the correct acknowledgement is given.

Read more about how to correctly acknowledge RSC content.

Social activity

Spotlight

Advertisements