Nanowerk January 23, 2020
There is a lot of interest in the world of nanoscience in making nanoparticles that combine several different materials. But the current process is complex, long and time consuming. Researchers at the Pennsylvania State University have developed two design guidelines, based on interfacial reactivity and crystal structure relations that enable the rational synthesis of a heterostructured nanorod megalibrary. They defined synthetically feasible pathways to 65,520 distinct multicomponent metal sulfide nanorods having as many as 6 materials, 8 segments, and 11 internal interfaces by applying up to seven sequential cation-exchange reactions to copper sulfide nanorod precursors. They experimentally observed 113 individual heterostructured nanorods and demonstrated the scalable production of three samples…read more. TECHNICAL ARTICLE
Electron microscope images are shown for 32 of these nanorods, which form with various combinations of materials. Each color represents a different material. Image: Schaak Laboratory, Penn State