The Role of Thermodynamics and Kinetics in Self-Assembly of Metallic Nanocrystals

金属纳米晶体的应用开始跨越纳米技术和纳米生物技术的领域，全球对金属纳米晶体的兴趣最近急剧增加。在所有这些应用中，控制纳米颗粒的尺寸和形态是至关重要的，因为这些特性决定了它们的电子、光学和催化性能。这就需要了解基本的热力学和动力学驱动力，这些驱动力决定了纳米颗粒的成核、生长和稳定性。本项目将研究表面热力学和生长动力学在金属纳米晶体的成核、生长和稳定性中的作用，以了解如何控制其合成。

Global interest in metallic nano-crystals has recently increased dramatically as the realized applications of these structures begin to span the fields of nanotechnology and nano-biotechnology. In all these applications, control of the size and morphology of the nano-particles is critically important, as these characteristics determine their electronic, optical and catalytic properties. This requires an understanding of the underlying thermodynamic and kinetic driving forces, which govern nano-particle nucleation, growth and stability. This project will investigate the role of surface thermodynamics and growth kinetics in the nucleation, growth and stability of metallic nano-crystals in order to understand how to control their synthesis.