Formation of Metal-Semiconductor Core-shell Nanoparticles Using Electrochemical Atomic Layer Deposition

Abstract

We report the synthesis of CuI coated and CdS coated Au core-shell nanoparticle films using electrochemical atomic layer deposition (EC-ALD). Au nanoparticle thin films were prepared on glassy carbon supports by depositing alternating layers of poly-(diallyl dimethylammonium)-stabilized Au nanoparticles and CoP2W17061 8- polyoxometallate interlayers. CuI was deposited onto the surface of Au nanoparticles using electrochemical atomic layer epitaxy, while CdS films were grown by an atom-by-atom co-deposition technique. The semiconductor coated nanoparticles were characterized by electrochemistry, photoluminescence spectroscopy, and Raman spectroscopy. Our results indicate that the semiconductors are deposited onto the Au nanoparticles surface by surface limited electrochemical reactions.