Droplet-based microfluidic synthesis of anisotropic metal nanocrystals.
A droplet-based microfluidic method for the preparation of anisotropic gold nanocrystal dispersions is presented. Gold nanoparticle seeds and growth reagents are dispensed into monodisperse picoliter droplets within a microchannel. Confinement within small droplets prevents contact between the growing nanocrystals and the microchannel walls. The critical factors in translating macroscale flask-based methods to a flow-based microfluidic method are highlighted and approaches are demonstrated to flexibly fine tune nanoparticle shapes into three broad classes: spheres/spheroids, rods, and extended sharp-edged structures, thus varying the optical resonances in the visible-near-infrared (NIR) spectral range.
Duraiswamy
Suhanya
S
Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, National University of Singapore, 4 Engineering Drive 4, E5-02-28, 117576 Singapore.
Khan
Saif A
SA
D016880:Anisotropy; D003460:Crystallization / Q000379:methods*; D046911:Macromolecular Substances / Q000737:chemistry; D008422:Materials Testing; D008670:Metals / Q000737:chemistry*; D046210:Microfluidic Analytical Techniques / Q000379:methods*; D008968:Molecular Conformation; D049329:Nanostructures / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D036103:Nanotechnology / Q000379:methods*; D010316:Particle Size; D013499:Surface Properties
D046911:Macromolecular Substances; D008670:Metals