Work

Heterostructured Nanocrystal Synthesis with Large Lattice Mismatch by Sacrificial Agent Assisted Method

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: Heterostructured nanocrystals (HNCs) integrating dissimilar materials offer unprecedented functionalities for optoelectronics and bioimaging, yet their synthesis remains constrained by severe lattice mismatch (>5%) between crystallographically incompatible phases. To overcome this challenge, a sacrificial agent‐assisted method is introduced to fabricate high‐quality HNCs from materials with incompatible crystal structures and extreme lattice mismatches. Using ZnO nanocrystals as a sacrificial oxygen source, the method demonstrates the epitaxial growth of NaYF 4 /YOF HNCs—combining hexagonal phase NaYF 4 and cubic phase YOF with a bulk lattice mismatch of 36%. This strategy suppresses shell self‐nucleation and enables facet‐selective heteroepitaxy by maintaining an ultra‐low monomer concentration. Atomic‐resolution characterization reveals a coherent interface between NaYF 4 {100} and YOF {311} planes, reducing the interfacial mismatch to 7.6%. This method operates efficiently across a wide temperature range (300–320 °C) with >92% yield, while morphology is tunable via Na + additives. This approach facilitates the design of advanced metal fluoride/oxide HNCs for photonics, sensing, and catalysis, offering new opportunities for applications where lattice mismatch has previously limited heterostructure development.

Source: Small Science

DOI: 10.1002/smsc.202500443

Authors: Feng Qin, De‐Ming Liu, Guo‐Yang Chen, Jia‐Xu Yan, Lei Liu, De‐Zhen Shen

Institutions: Chinese Academy of Sciences, Changchun Institute of Optics, Fine Mechanics and Physics, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Anhui University

Language: English

Topic: Luminescence Properties of Advanced Materials

Subfield: Materials Chemistry

Field: Materials Science

Domain: Physical Sciences

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $6,350

Funder: National Natural Science Foundation of China