Hetero-dimers of metal nanoparticles are widely sought for applications in photonics, sensing, and catalysis. In this work, we demonstrate a general approach to the fabrication of hetero-dimers of metal nanoparticles by leveraging the concept of site-selected growth under the protection of an inert material. When styrene is polymerized in the presence of Au nanoparticles, the resultant polystyrene (PS) can be controlled to grow only from one portion of the surface of a nanoparticle. Free of PS, the remaining portion can serve as an active site for the heterogeneous nucleation and growth of the second metal. After dissolving the PS component, we obtain hetero-dimers of metal nanoparticles with tunable elemental compositions and controllable physical dimensions. The contact area between the two metals can also be maneuvered by adjusting the concentration of divinylbenzene used for co-polymerization with styrene. Using this method, we have prepared Au-Ag, Au-Pd, and Au-Pt hetero-dimers and further investigated their plasmonic properties. The capability of this approach should be extendible to the fabrication of hetero-dimers with a broader range of compositions and properties.

General approach to the synthesis of hetero-dimers of metal nanoparticles through site-selected protection and growth

Macromolecular Chemistry: The Second Century

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ACS Spring 2020 National Meeting & Expo

The official archive and repository for all ACS Meetings & Expositions abstracts and select posters or presentations.