A Versatile Self-Assembly Strategy for the Synthesis of Shape-Selected Colloidal Noble Metal Nanoparticle Heterodimers
Journal article, 2014

The self-assembly of individual nanoparticles into-dimers so-called heterodimers-is relevant for a broad range of applications, in particular in the vibrant field of nano-plasmonics and nanooptics. In this paper we report the synthesis and characterization of material- and shape-selected nanoparticle heterodimers assembled from individual particles via electrostatic interaction. The versatility of the synthetic strategy is shown by assembling combinations of metal particles of different shapes, sizes, and metal compositions like a gold sphere (90 nm) with either a gold cube (35 nm), gold rhombic dodecahedron (50 nm), palladium truncated cube (120 nm), palladium rhombic dodecahedron (110 nm), palladium octahedron (130 nm), or palladium cubes (25 and 70 nm) as well as a silver sphere (90 nm) with palladium cubes (25 and 70 nm). The obtained heterodimer combinations are characterized by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), scanning transmission electron microscopy energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (STEM-EDX), dynamic light scattering (DLS), and zeta-potential measurements. We describe the optimal experimental conditions to achieve the highest yield of heterodimers compared to other aggregates. The experimental results have been rationalized using theoretical modeling. A proof-of-principle experiment where individual Au-Pd heterodimers are exploited for indirect plasmonic sensing of hydrogen finally illustrates the potential of these structures to probe catalytic processes at the single particle level.

GOLD NANOPARTICLES

ACID

NANODISKS

SENSORS

NANOCRYSTALS

SURFACE-PLASMON RESONANCE

AGGREGATION

GROWTH

NANOSTRUCTURES

Author

Tina Gschneidtner

Chalmers, Chemical and Biological Engineering, Polymer Technology

Yuri A. Diaz Fernandez

Chalmers, Chemical and Biological Engineering, Polymer Technology

Svetlana Syrenova

Chalmers, Applied Physics, Chemical Physics

Fredrik Westerlund

Chalmers, Chemical and Biological Engineering, Physical Chemistry

Christoph Langhammer

Chalmers, Applied Physics, Chemical Physics

Kasper Moth-Poulsen

Chalmers, Chemical and Biological Engineering, Polymer Technology

Langmuir

07437463 (ISSN) 15205827 (eISSN)

Vol. 30 11 3041-3050

Areas of Advance

Nanoscience and Nanotechnology

Energy

Materials Science

Subject Categories

Materials Chemistry

Chemical Sciences

DOI

10.1021/la5002754

More information

Latest update

10/15/2018