Chemistry Seminar – William Vance, Chemistry Graduate Student

About the event

Speaker: William Vance, chemistry graduate student

Title: Understanding the Anisotropic Growth of Metallic Nanoparticles

Abstract: Metallic nanoparticles are nanoscale particles of metals that have unique properties with applications in various fields such as medicine, catalysis, sensing, and energy. Anisotropic metallic nanoparticles exhibit distinctive optical, electronic, and catalytic properties that depend on their shape and size. They can also show enhanced catalytic activity and selectivity for various reactions due to their exposed facets and edges. The synthesis of metallic nanoparticles with anisotropic shapes, such as rods, wires, plates, rings, stars, and polyhedra, is a challenging task that requires precise control over the growth mechanisms and parameters that influence the morphology and dimensions of the particles. This anisotropic growth can be achieved by different methods, such as solvothermal synthesis and seed-mediated overgrowth. Among these methods, wet-chemical synthesis is the most widely used and versatile approach that involves the use of various reagents, such as metal salts, reducing agents, and capping agents. This talk will discuss how kinetics, reducing agents, and trace impurities play key roles in the anisotropic growth of these particles.

References:

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