Synthesis of Ag@AgAu Metal Core/Alloy Shell Bimetallic Nanoparticles with Tunable Shell Compositions by a Galvanic Replacement Reaction

Truncated octahedral (TO) Ag nanoparticles are subjected to a replacement reaction with HAuCl4, where they undergo a series of morphological changes to transform into Ag@AgAu metal core/alloy shell nanoparticles (see image). In the final stage, atomic rearrangement occurrs to restore the bimetallic particles to the initial TO shape.