Colloidal synthesis and etching yield monodisperse plasmonic quasi-spherical Mg nanoparticles.

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Nanotechnology
• Plasmonics

Background:

• Magnesium (Mg) is a cost-effective, abundant, and biocompatible plasmonic metal.
• Controlling Mg nanoparticle size and shape is crucial for optimizing optical responses in light-harvesting applications.
• The hexagonal close-packed structure of Mg enables diverse nanoparticle morphologies, but shape control during colloidal synthesis is difficult due to complex kinetics.

Purpose of the Study:

• To present a novel approach for manipulating magnesium nanoparticle shape.
• To achieve precise control over nanoparticle morphology for improved optical properties.
• To establish a versatile shape control tool for colloidal magnesium synthesis.

Main Methods:

• One-pot synthesis of magnesium nanoparticles.
• Colloidal etching of magnesium nanoparticles using polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons.
• Characterization of nanoparticle morphology and surface properties.

Main Results:

• Demonstrated preferential etching of tips and edges in faceted magnesium nanoparticles.
• Successfully produced quasi-spherical magnesium nanoparticles with smooth surfaces.
• Developed an effective method for shape manipulation in colloidal magnesium synthesis.

Conclusions:

• The developed colloidal etching method offers essential shape control for magnesium nanoparticles.
• This technique can enhance the performance of magnesium nanoparticles in light-harvesting applications.
• The approach may be applicable to controlling the shape of other oxidizable metals.