Semiconductor nanowires (NWs) capped with metal nanoparticles (NPs) show multifunctional and synergistic properties, which are important for applications in the fields of catalysis, photonics, and electronics. Conventional colloidal syntheses of this class of hybrid structures require complex sequential seeded growth, where each section requires its own set of growth conditions, and methods for preparing such wires are not universal. Here, we report a new and general method for synthesizing metal-semiconductor nanohybrids based on particle catalysts, prepared by scanning probe block copolymer lithography, and chemical vapor deposition. In this process, metallic heterodimer NPs were used as catalysts for NW growth to form semiconductor NWs capped with metallic particles (Au, Ag, Co, Ni). Interestingly, the growth processes for NWs on NPs are regioselective and controlled by the chemical composition of the metallic heterodimer used. Using a systematic experimental approach, paired with density functional theory calculations, we were able to postulate three different growth modes, one without precedent.

中文翻译：

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从异二聚体纳米粒子催化剂合成金属封端的半导体纳米线

用金属纳米粒子 (NPs) 覆盖的半导体纳米线 (NWs) 显示出多功能和协同特性，这对于催化、光子学和电子学领域的应用很重要。此类混合结构的常规胶体合成需要复杂的连续种子生长，其中每个部分都需要自己的一组生长条件，并且制备此类线的方法并不通用。在这里，我们报告了一种新的通用方法，用于合成基于颗粒催化剂的金属-半导体纳米杂化物，通过扫描探针嵌段共聚物光刻和化学气相沉积制备。在这个过程中，金属异二聚体 NPs 被用作 NW 生长的催化剂，以形成覆盖有金属颗粒（Au、Ag、Co、Ni）的半导体 NW。有趣的是，NWs 在 NPs 上的生长过程是区域选择性的，并受所用金属异二聚体的化学成分控制。使用系统的实验方法，结合密度泛函理论计算，我们能够假设三种不同的增长模式，一种没有先例。