title: A total-synthesis framework for the construction of high-order colloidal hybrid nanoparticles.
abstract: Colloidal hybrid nanoparticles contain multiple nanoscale domains fused together by solid-state interfaces. They represent an emerging class of multifunctional lab-on-a-particle architectures that underpin future advances in solar energy conversion, fuel-cell catalysis, medical imaging and therapy, and electronics. The complexity of these 'artificial molecules' is limited ultimately by the lack of a mechanism-driven design framework. Here, we show that known chemical reactions can be applied in a predictable and stepwise manner to build complex hybrid nanoparticle architectures that include M-Pt-Fe(3)O(4) (M = Au, Ag, Ni, Pd) heterotrimers, M(x)S-Au-Pt-Fe(3)O(4) (M = Pb, Cu) heterotetramers and higher-order oligomers based on the heterotrimeric Au-Pt-Fe(3)O(4) building block. This synthetic framework conceptually mimics the total-synthesis approach used by chemists to construct complex organic molecules. The reaction toolkit applies solid-state nanoparticle analogues of chemoselective reactions, regiospecificity, coupling reactions and molecular substituent effects to the construction of exceptionally complex hybrid nanoparticle oligomers.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry and Materials Research Institute, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania 16802, USA.
authors.forename: Matthew R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Buck
authors.forename: James F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Bondi
authors.forename: Raymond E
authors.initials: RE
authors.lastname: Schaak
mesh_terms: D003102:Colloids / Q000138:chemical synthesis* / Q000737:chemistry*; D053768:Metal Nanoparticles / Q000737:chemistry*; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D008958:Models, Molecular
chemical_list: D003102:Colloids