Abstract

A colloidal nonaqueous approach to semiconductor-magnetic hybrid nanocrystals (HNCs) withselectable heterodimer topologies and tunable geometric parameters is demonstrated. Brookite TiO2nanorods, distinguished by a curved shape-tapered profile with richly faceted terminations, are exploitedas substrate seeds onto which a single spherical domain of inverse spinel iron oxide can be epitaxiallygrown at either one apex or any location along their longitudinal sidewalls in a hot surfactant environment.The topologically controlled arrangement of the component material lattices, the crystallographic relationshipsholding between them, and strain distribution across individual heterostructures have been studied bycombining X-ray diffraction and absorption techniques with high-resolution transmission electron microscopyinvestigations. Supported by such structural knowledge, the synthetic achievements are interpreted withinthe frame of various mechanistic models offering complementary views of HNC formation. The differentHNC architectures are concluded to be almost equivalent in terms of surface-interface energy balanceassociated with their formation. HNC topology selection is rationalized on the basis of a diffusion-limitedmechanism allowing iron oxide heterogeneous nucleation and growth on the TiO2 nanorods to switch froma thermodynamically controlled to a kinetically overdriven deposition regime, in which the anisotropicreactivity offered by the uniquely structured seeds is accentuated under high spatially inhomogeneousmonomer fluxes. Finally, the multifunctional capabilities of the heterostructures are highlighted throughillustration of their magnetic and photocatalytic properties, which have been found to diverge from thoseotherwise exhibited by their individual material components and physical mixture counterparts.

Autore Pugliese

• Giannini Cinzia , Carlino Elvio

Tutti gli autori

• Buonsanti R.; Grillo V.; Carlino E.; Giannini C.; Gozzo F.; Garcia-Hernandez M.; Garcia M.A.; Cingolani R.; Cozzoli P.D.

Titolo volume/Rivista

Journal of the American Chemical Society

Anno di pubblicazione

2010

ISSN

0002-7863

ISBN

Non Disponibile

Numero di citazioni Wos

Nessuna citazione

Ultimo Aggiornamento Citazioni

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Numero di citazioni Scopus

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Ultimo Aggiornamento Citazioni

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Settori ERC

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Codici ASJC

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