Direct observation of chemical reactions in silica‐coated gold and silver nanoparticles

Abstract

The direct observation of chemical reactions of single particles in real time has been achieved using silver nano‐particles covered in a 10 nm silica shell (see cover). Transmission electron micrographs reveal how molecular iodine diffuses through the shell and reacts with Ag, giving AgI. A single AgI particle (mid‐gray) is shown to form on the surface of the silica while the Ag core shrinks. magnified image