Continuous Encodable Reshaping of Gold Nanocrystals through Facet Modulation

Area of Science:

• Nanomaterials Science
• Surface Chemistry
• Catalysis

Background:

• Precise control over nanocrystal (NC) shape and facet composition is essential for tailoring their properties.
• Existing methods for NC manipulation often involve complex reduction-mediated processes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To introduce a novel, room-temperature nanocrystal reshaping strategy for gold (Au) NCs.
• To demonstrate precise control over facet composition and its impact on catalytic performance.

Main Methods:

• A one-pot synthesis using initial Au NCs, Au³⁺ ions, and surfactants at room temperature.
• Characterization via electron microscopy, small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS), and UV-vis spectroscopy.
• Evaluation of catalytic activity using the ethanol oxidation reaction (EOR).

Main Results:

• Demonstrated a surfactant-encoded pathway for transforming NC shapes (shaped to spheres to polyhedra) while preserving volume.
• Elucidated a reshaping mechanism involving Au atom dissolution and surfactant-guided redeposition.
• Observed a correlation between {100} facet exposure and enhanced catalytic activity in EOR.

Conclusions:

• The presented strategy offers precise control over NC reshaping and facet modulation.
• This method provides a versatile approach for designing nanomaterials with tunable catalytic properties.
• The findings expand synthetic methodologies in nanocrystal engineering.