Metal tips on pyramid-shaped PbSe/CdSe/CdS heterostructure nanocrystal photocatalysts: Study of Ostwald ripening and core/shell formation

Abstract

We report ripening of metal particles anchored on pyramid-shaped heterostructure nanocrystals. The ‘intra-particle’ ripening results in a large metal tip at one corner with the other three tips vanishing. Investigation reveals that the ripening and core/shell formation affects photocatalytic activities via the Fermi level change. 2014 © The Royal Society of Chemistry.