Asymmetrical etching of Ag nanoparticles into symmetry-reduced bi-metallic nanocups at the single-nanoparticle level

Abstract

Asymmetrical etching of nanoparticles was achieved by employing interface-confined galvanic replacement reactions. Interfacial Ag nanocubes, nanowires and nanospheres were fabricated into symmetry-reduced cubic, trough-like and spherical nanocups, respectively. The formation of nanocups is attributed to in situ local nanomasking and selective etching of interfacial nanoparticles at the single-nanoparticle level.