Cation exchange is a powerful post-synthetic modification tool in the synthesis of nanoscale crystalline materials with desired compositions and properties. A preformed nanocrystalline material is subjected to mild reaction conditions that facilitate the removal of cations from the anion sublattice, which are subsequently replaced by cations from solution. Throughout this process, the morphologic and crystallographic features of the template material can be preserved. Control over material composition is thereby decoupled from nanoparticle morphology, allowing for the synthesis of nanoscale solids with specific compositions in shapes and sizes that are not directly accessible. Additionally, cation exchange reactions can be arrested prior to completion through kinetic or stoichiometric limitation, in some cases leading to the formation of solid-state interfaces between the cation exchange product and the starting material. Recent advances using cation exchange as a synthetic platform to introduce internal heterojunctions within a nanoparticle framework, followed by selective materials integration to form complex nanoscale solids, will be discussed.<br/>

Cation exchange as a synthetic entryway to complex nanomaterials

255th National Meeting (2018)

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