Colloidal Synthesis of Copper Nanocrystals for Plasmonic and Related Applications

Copper (Cu) nanocrystals have received a lot of interest in recent years because of the high natural abundance and low cost of copper, as well as their outstanding performance in applications related to plasmonics, electronics, and catalysis. In this talk, I will discuss a number of solution-phase methods for the colloidal synthesis of Cu nanocrystals with well-defined and controllable shapes or morphologies. The methods involve both self-nucleation and seed-mediated growth. In the presence of proper capping agents, the nanocrysatls could be directed to grow into nanoscale cubes and right pyramicds, as well as one-dimensional rods and wires with a penta-twinned structure. The surface of these nanocrystasl is typcially enclosed by {100} facets. These nanocrystals could be prepared in high purity, together with controllable edge lengths down to 20 nm, offering an interesting system for the exploration of plasmonic application and electrocatalytic conversion of CO₂ to ethylene.