Anisotropic Seeded Growth of Cu–M (M = Au, Pt, or Pd) Bimetallic Nanorods with Tunable Optical and Catalytic Properties

Abstract

A general strategy to synthesize Cu–M (M = Au, Pt, or Pd) bimetallic nanorods has been demonstrated based on a seeded co-reduction method. In this approach, noble metal nanoparticles serve as seeds, and newly reduced Cu atoms are subsequently nucleated on one side of the seeds, resulting in Janus nanoparticles with an M-rich and a Cu-rich portion. The elongation of the particles originates from the site-specific deposition of Cu clusters on the Cu-rich side of these Janus nanoparticles by retarding reduction kinetics of Cu through galvanic replacement. Using this approach, Cu–M alloyed nanorods can be conveniently synthesized with tunable composition, crystal structure, and aspect ratio. These nanorods have also been demonstrated as a unique system for investigation of the structural and compositional effects on their optical and catalytic properties.