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Review
. 2021 Sep 23;1(11):1849-1859.
doi: 10.1021/jacsau.1c00339. eCollection 2021 Nov 22.

Recent Advances and Prospects in Colloidal Nanomaterials

Woonhyuk Baek  1   2 , Hogeun Chang  1   2 , Megalamane S Bootharaju  1   2 , Jeong Hyun Kim  1   2 , Sungjun Park  1   2 , Taeghwan Hyeon  1   2
Affiliations
Review

Recent Advances and Prospects in Colloidal Nanomaterials

Woonhyuk Baek et al. JACS Au. .

Abstract

Colloidal nanomaterials of metals, metal oxides, and metal chalcogenides have attracted great attention in the past decade owing to their potential applications in optoelectronics, catalysis, and energy conversion. Introduction of various synthetic routes has resulted in diverse colloidal nanostructured materials with well-controlled size, shape, and composition, enabling the systematic study of their intriguing physicochemical, optoelectronic, and chemical properties. Furthermore, developments in the instrumentation have offered valuable insights into the nucleation and growth mechanism of these nanomaterials, which are crucial in designing prospective materials with desired properties. In this perspective, recent advances in the colloidal synthesis and mechanism studies of nanomaterials of metal chalcogenides, metals, and metal oxides are discussed. In addition, challenges in the characterization and future direction of the colloidal nanomaterials are provided.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no competing financial interest.

Figures

Scheme 1
Scheme 1. Representation of Key Themes Discussed in This Perspective
Scheme 2
Scheme 2. Depiction of the Formation of Nanocrystals through MSC Intermediates, Which Offer Several Possibilities in Designing Materials with New Properties
Figure 1
Figure 1
Schematic summarizing the role of cluster molecules in the synthesis of nanostructured materials. Adapted with permission from ref (31). Copyright 2017, American Chemical Society.
Figure 2
Figure 2
(a) Schematic representation of the self-assembly of MSCs through a ligand-based approach. (b) Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) image of Mn2+:(CdSe)13 SSs. (c) Digital photograph, of a bulb coated with Mn2+:(CdSe)13 SSs, captured under a UV lamp. Reproduced with permission from ref (38). Copyright 2021 Springer Nature Limited.
Figure 3
Figure 3
(a) Representative photographs of nanocrystal colloids in molten salts and ionic liquid. (b,c) TEM images of CdSe/CdS nanocrystals (b) before dispersing in molten NaSCN/KSCN eutectic and (c) after their recovery from NaSCN/KSCN eutectic and functionalization with organic ligands. Reprinted with permission from ref (61). Copyright 2019, American Chemical Society.
Scheme 3
Scheme 3. (a) Representation of the Core and Surface Structure, And Defects of the Colloidal Nanomaterials, and (b) Common Tools for Structural Characterization of Nanomaterials
Scheme 4
Scheme 4. Depiction of the Formation and Growth Mechanism Studies of Colloidal Nanomaterials by Using Spectroscopic and Microscopic Techniques
Figure 4
Figure 4
(a,b) Computed structure of iron-oxo-oleate cluster [Fe3O(oleate)6]+. (c) Esterification of oleate on iron-oxo cluster with added 1-decanol. (d) Schematic of the continuous growth of iron-oxide nanoparticles (top) and the discrete nucleation and growth (bottom). A distinct nucleation step is absent in continuous growth model. Reprinted with permission from ref (95). Copyright 2019, American Chemical Society.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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