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Nonclassical nucleation and growth of inorganic nanoparticles

Nature Reviews Materials volume 1, Article number: 16034 (2016) Cite this article

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Abstract

The synthesis of nanoparticles with particular compositions and structures can lead to nanoparticles with notable physicochemical properties, thus promoting their use in various applications. In this area of nanoscience, the focus is shifting from size- and shape-uniform single-component nanoparticles to multicomponent nanoparticles with enhanced performance and/or multifunctionality. With the increasing complexity of synthetic reactions, an understanding of the formation mechanisms of the nanoparticles is needed to enable a systematic synthetic approach. This Review highlights mechanistic studies underlying the synthesis of nanoparticles, with an emphasis on nucleation and growth behaviours that are not expected from classical theories. We discuss the structural properties of nanoclusters that are of a size that bridges molecules and solids. We then describe the role of nanoclusters in the prenucleation process as well as in nonclassical nucleation models. The growth of nanoparticles via the assembly and merging of primary particles is also overviewed. Finally, we present the heterogeneous nucleation mechanisms behind the synthesis of multicomponent nanoparticles.

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Figure 1: Structures of cluster molecules and their size-dependent properties.
Figure 2: Nucleation of colloidal nanocrystals via nonclassical pathways.
Figure 3: Stepwise phase transitions and aggregation of nuclei.
Figure 4: Oriented attachment of nanoparticles.
Figure 5: Formation of 2D nanocrystals by assembly.
Figure 6: Multidomain structures of nanoparticles.
Figure 7: Energetics and nucleation probability of heterogeneous nucleation.
Figure 8: Lattice strain and structural properties of multicomponent nanoparticles.

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Acknowledgements

This work was supported by the Institute for Basic Science (IBS) in Republic of Korea (IBS-R006-D1 and IBS-R006-Y1).

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  1. Jisoo Lee and Jiwoong Yang: These authors contributed equally to this work

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Center for Nanoparticle Research, Institute for Basic Science (IBS), Seoul, 08826, Republic of Korea

    Jisoo Lee, Jiwoong Yang, Soon Gu Kwon & Taeghwan Hyeon

  2. School of Chemical and Biological Engineering and Institute of Chemical Processes, Seoul National University, Seoul, 08826, Republic of Korea

    Jisoo Lee, Jiwoong Yang, Soon Gu Kwon & Taeghwan Hyeon

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Lee, J., Yang, J., Kwon, S. et al. Nonclassical nucleation and growth of inorganic nanoparticles. Nat Rev Mater 1, 16034 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1038/natrevmats.2016.34

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