Solid-State Conversion Chemistry of Multicomponent Nanocrystals Cast in a Hollow Silica Nanosphere: Morphology-Controlled Syntheses of Hybrid Nanocrystals

During thermal transformation of multicomponent nanocrystals in a silica nanosphere, FeAuPd alloy nanocrystals migrate outward and thereby leave a cavity in the silica matrix. Oxidation then converts these nanocrystals back into phase-segregated hybrid nanocrystals, AuPd@Fe3O4, with various morphologies. The FeAuPd-to-AuPd@Fe3O4 transformation was cast by the in situ generated hollow silica mold. Therefore, the morphological parameters of the transformed AuPd@Fe3O4 are defined by the degree of migration of the FeAuPd in the hollow silica nanoshell. This hollow silica-cast nanocrystal conversion was studied to develop a solid state protocol that can be used to produce a range of hybrid nanocrystals and that allows for systematic and sophisticated control of the resulting morphologies.