From colloids to nanotechnology: investigations on magic nuclearity palladium nanocrystals

Abstract

Current status of nanoscience research is briefly surveyed with special emphasis on monodisperse metal nanocrystals. Tunneling spectroscopy measurements on polymer protected magic nuclearity Pd₅₆₁ nanocrystals have revealed single electron charging effects. Mesoscopic organizations resulting from self-assembly of these nanocrystals have been investigated. Giant clusters containing magic numbers of nanocrystals are formed when the nanocrystals are capped uniformly with a polymer. In contrast, alkanethiol capped nanocrystals yield well ordered two-dimensional arrays. The Pd nanocrystals have also been exploited as seeds to grow Ni overlayers of desired thickness to form Pd-Ni core-shell nanoparticles. Magnetic arrays of Pd-Ni nanoparticles have been obtained.