Control of the Shape of Copper Metallic Particles by Using a Colloidal System as Template

Abstract

In this paper we show that the use of colloidal assemblies as templates favors the control of the shape of nanoparticles. Cylindrical copper metallic particles having same size can be obtained in various parts of the phase diagram when the template is made of interconnected cylinders. A very low amount of cylinders (13%) is formed when the synthesis is performed in cylindrical reverse micelles. When the colloidal self-assembly is a mixture of several phases, various types of shapes can be obtained. In some cases, the polydispersity in size is so low that metallic particles are able to self-assemble in a hexagonal network. Multilayers can be observed and are arranged in a face centered cubic structure.