title: Ascorbic-acid-assisted growth of high quality M@ZnO: a growth mechanism and kinetics study.
abstract: We present a general route for synthesizing M@ZnO nanoparticles (NPs) by using ascorbic acid (AA) to induce deposition of ZnO on various shaped and structured cationic-surfactant-capped NP surfaces (noble, magnetic, semiconductor, rod-like, spherical, cubic, dendrite, alloy, core@shell). The results show that the complexing (AA and Zn(2+)) and cooperative effects (AA and CTAB) play important roles in the formation of polycrystalline ZnO shells. Besides, the growth kinetics of M@ZnO was systematically studied. It was found that the slow growth rate favors the successful formation of uniform core@ZnO NPs with relatively loose shells. An appropriate growth rate allows achieving high quality M@ZnO NPs with dense shells. However, very fast growth causes significant additional nucleation and the formation of pure ZnO NPs. This general method is suitable for preparing M@ZnO using seed NPs prepared in both water and organic phases. It might be an alternative route for functionalizing NPs for bioapplications (ZnO is biocompatible), modulating material properties as designed, or synthesizing template materials for building other nanostructures.
authors.affiliation: Nanomaterials and Chemistry Key Laboratory, Wenzhou University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang 325027, P. R. China. bachier@163.com smhuang@wzu.edu.cn.
authors.forename: Yun
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Shuhua
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Han
authors.forename: Guangju
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.forename: Lijie
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Xingliang
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Chao
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Zou
authors.forename: Shaoming
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Huang
mesh_terms: D001205:Ascorbic Acid / Q000737:chemistry*; D006046:Gold / Q000737:chemistry; D057927:Hydrophobic and Hydrophilic Interactions; D007700:Kinetics; D053768:Metal Nanoparticles / Q000737:chemistry*; D010165:Palladium / Q000737:chemistry; D010316:Particle Size; D013499:Surface Properties; D013501:Surface-Active Agents / Q000737:chemistry; D015034:Zinc Oxide / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D013501:Surface-Active Agents; D010165:Palladium; D006046:Gold; D001205:Ascorbic Acid; D015034:Zinc Oxide