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Updated: Jan 30, 2026

Energy Dispersive X-ray Tomography for 3D Elemental Mapping of Individual Nanoparticles
Published on: July 5, 2016
A welding phenomenon of dissimilar nanoparticles in dispersion
Zhiqi Huang1,2, Zhi-Jian Zhao1, Qian Zhang2
1Key Laboratory for Green Chemical Technology of Ministry of Education, School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Collaborative Innovation Center of Chemical Science and Engineering, Tianjin University, 300072, Tianjin, China.
Abstract:
The oriented attachment of small nanoparticles (NPs) is recognized as an important mechanism involved in the growth of inorganic nanocrystals. However, non-oriented attachment of dissimilar NPs has been rarely observed in dispersion. This communication reports a welding phenomenon occurred directly between as-synthesized dispersions of single-component Au and chalcogenide NPs, which leads to the formation of asymmetric Au-chalcogenide hybrid NPs (HNPs). The welding of dissimilar NPs in dispersion is mainly driven by the ligand desorption-induced conformal contact between NPs and the diffusion of Au into chalcogenide NPs. The welding process can occur between NPs with distinct shapes or different capping agents or in different solvent media. A two-step assembly-welding mechanism is proposed for this process, based on our in situ electron spin resonance measurements and ab initio molecular dynamics simulation. The understanding of NP welding in dispersion may lead to the development of unconventional synthetic tools for the fabrication of hybrid nanostructures with diverse applications.
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