Anti-Galvanic Reduction of Thiolate-Protected Gold and Silver Nanoparticles

Unexpected: Anti‐galvanic reduction (AGR), that is, metal ions are reduced by more‐noble metals, was found in small thiolated gold (see figure) and silver nanoparticles! These findings are not only unexpected considering the classic galvanic theory, but also provide a facile and mild method to make alloys on the nanoscale or tune the compositions, structures, and properties of nanostructures that are otherwise difficult to obtain.