Work

Unraveling the Growth Mechanism of Chiral Inorganic Nanocrystals via High-Resolution Electron Microscopy

Year: 2024

Type: article

Abstract: Chiral inorganic nanomaterials have attracted broad interest due to their intriguing chirality-dependent performances. However, there is a lack of experimental studies and atomic-level evidence on their growth mechanism. Herein, high-crystalline chiral tellurium nanowires were synthesized in an alkali solution by using tellurium oxide as an inorganic source and hydrazine hydrate as a reductant. The evolution of the nucleus and crystalline domains was manifested using high-resolution electron microscopy and electron diffraction, demonstrating a nonclassical growth path, that is, from monomers to nanowires of clusters and then nanocrystals. Furthermore, chiral inducers, d/l-penicillamine, were used at different stages to study their effects on the bias of two enantiomorphic structures with different chiral space groups. A similar nonclassical growth mechanism was also found in the synthesis of chiral terbium phosphate nanowires, demonstrating a common growth phenomenon in chiral inorganic nanomaterials. This work provides novel insights into the formation of chiral nanomaterials, benefiting the further controllable synthesis of various chiral nanomaterials.

Source: Journal of the American Chemical Society

DOI: 10.1021/jacs.4c13478

Authors: Chaoyang Chu, Yao Wang, Yanhang Ma

Institution: ShanghaiTech University

Language: English

Topic: Quantum Dots Synthesis And Properties

Subfield: Materials Chemistry

Field: Materials Science

Domain: Physical Sciences

Open Access status: hybrid

Estimated APC paid: $4,500

Funders: National Natural Science Foundation of China, National Key Research and Development Program of China