Shape-Controlled Synthesis of Metal Nanostructures Younan Xia, Washington University, DMR 0804088

1. Shape-Controlled Synthesis of Metal Nanostructures Younan Xia, Washington University, DMR 0804088 Shape control allows one to manipulate the facets on a metal nanostructure and thus its properties and its performance in a specific application. We have demonstrated a variety of novel methods for producing Ag and Pd nanostructures in the shape of cube, sphere, cuboctahedron, octahedron, right bipyramid, decahedron, icosahedron, thin plate, rectangular bar, and pentagonal wire. The key is to control the number of twin defects within a seed from which a nanostructure will evolve, and the reduction rate. The example of a sphere, cube, or bar illustrates how the shape of a nanostructure affects the color of light it scatters, as well as the distribution of surface charge or local electric field. As a result, one can design and synthesize the best nanomaterials for catalysis, sensing, imaging, and surface-enhanced Raman scattering. Y. Xia, Y. Xiong, B. K. Lim and S. E. Skrabalak, Angew. Chem. Int. Ed.2009, 48, 60-103. (review)

2. Shape-Controlled Synthesis of Metal Nanostructures Younan Xia, Washington University, DMR 0804088 Serving as an associate editor of Nano Letters Serving as a member of the advisory board for Nano Research, Nano Today, Langmuir, and Adv. Func. Mater. Serving as an co-organizer for a US-China workshop on nanomaterial research Serving as the guest editor for 2 special issues on nanomaterial research to be published in Adv. Mater. and Adv. Func. Mater. Supervision of 10 undergraduates enrolled for independent study, 1 REU summer student, and 1 high school student. See the left side for one of their publications (L. Lane). Giving invited lectures at MRS, ACS, and APS meetings, and seminars at >30 universities (including chemistry, biomedical engineering, and materials science & engineering). Serving as a review committee member of the Inorganic Nanostructures Facility at the DOE Molecular Foundry