Shape-Controlled Synthesis of Polyhedral Nanocrystals and Their Facet-Dependent Properties

• Published in: Advanced functional materials Vol. 22; no. 1; pp. 14 - 24
• Main Authors: Huang, Michael H., Lin, Po-Heng
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Weinheim WILEY-VCH Verlag 11.01.2012; WILEY‐VCH Verlag
• Subjects: cuprous oxide; gold; morphology control; nanostructures; silver oxide
• ISSN: 1616-301X; 1616-3028
• DOI: 10.1002/adfm.201101784

Growth of inorganic polyhedral nanocrystals with excellent morphology control presents significant synthetic challenges, especially when the development of synthetic schemes to make nanocrystals with systematic shape evolution is desired. Nanocrystals with fine size and shape control facilitate formation of their self‐assembled packing structures and offer opportunities for examination of their facet‐dependent physical and chemical properties. In this Feature Article, recent advances in the synthesis of nanocrystals with systematic shape evolution are highlighted. The reaction conditions used to achieve this morphology change offer insights into the growth mechanisms of nanocrystals. A novel class of polyhedral core–shell heterostructures fabricated using structurally well‐defined nanocrystal cores is also presented. Facet‐dependent photocatalytic activity, molecular adsorption, and catalytic and electrical properties of nanocrystals have been examined and are discussed. Nanomaterials with enhanced properties and functionality may be obtained through continuous efforts in the synthesis of nanocrystals with well‐defined structures and investigation of their plane‐selective properties. Crystal Morphology Control: In this Article, the syntheses of Au, Cu2O, and Ag2O nanocrystals with shape evolution are described. As an example, the images show submicrometer‐sized Cu2O crystals with cubic, truncated cubic, cuboctahedral, truncated octahedral, octahedral, and hexapod structures that can be synthesized systematically. These crystals with sharp faces are ideal for the examination of their facet‐dependent properties.