The present disclosure relates to a method for synthesizing Pd nanocubes having an average size less than 10 nm. The reaction temperature, reaction time, and molar ratios of TOP/Pd-OLA can be used to control size and formation of the Pd nanocubes. The present disclosure is also directed to Pd nanocubes, less than 10 nm, having face centered cubic structures. Pd nanocubes of the present disclosure are an effective catalyst for CO.sub.2 reduction reaction with excellent selectivity for CO. Small sized Pd nanocubes can be used not only as the seeds to prepare other metal nanocubes, but can also as powerful catalysts for a wide variety of reactions in different industrial processes.

In one aspect, the present disclosure pertains to methods of making various noble metal nanoprisms, e.g., gold nanoprisms. In various aspects, the methods can comprise incubating, under dark conditions, a growth solution comprising: (a) a plurality of gold seed structures; (b) a gold precursor, and (c) a photocatalytic intermediary, such that during the incubating step multiply-twinned gold seed structures in the growth solution are preferentially enlarged. The disclosed methods can comprise separating the multiply-twinned gold seed structures from the growth solution based upon the size of the gold seed structures to produce an enriched growth solution. In some aspects, the methods comprise irradiating the enriched growth solution to produce the gold nanoprisms. In some aspects, the disclosed nanoprisms comprise silver.

In one aspect, the present disclosure pertains to methods of making various noble metal nanoprisms, e.g., gold nanoprisms. In various aspects, the methods can comprise incubating, under dark conditions, a growth solution comprising: (a) a plurality of gold seed structures; (b) a gold precursor, and (c) a photocatalytic intermediary, such that during the incubating step multiply-twinned gold seed structures in the growth solution are preferentially enlarged. The disclosed methods can comprise separating the multiply-twinned gold seed structures from the growth solution based upon the size of the gold seed structures to produce an enriched growth solution. In some aspects, the methods comprise irradiating the enriched growth solution to produce the gold nanoprisms. In some aspects, the disclosed nanoprisms comprise silver.

The present invention relates to novel gold nanocrystals and nanocrystal shape distributions that have surfaces that are substantially free from organic impurities or films. Specifically, the surfaces are “clean” relative to the surfaces of gold nanoparticles made using chemical reduction processes that require organic reductants and/or surfactants to grow gold nanoparticles from gold ions in solution.

The invention includes novel electrochemical manufacturing apparatuses and techniques for making the gold-based nanocrystals. The invention further includes pharmaceutical compositions thereof and the use of the gold nanocrystals or suspensions or colloids thereof for the treatment or prevention of diseases or conditions for which gold therapy is already known and more generally for conditions resulting from pathological cellular activation, such as inflammatory (including chronic inflammatory) conditions, autoimmune conditions, hypersensitivity reactions and/or cancerous diseases or conditions. In one embodiment, the condition is mediated by MT (macrophage migration inhibiting factor).

Different Au—Pd nanoparticles, ranging from sharp-branched octopods to core@shell octahedra, can be achieved by inline manipulation of reagent flowrates in a microreactor for seeded growth. Significantly, these structures represent different kinetic products, demonstrating an inline control strategy toward kinetic nanoparticle products that should be generally applicable.

The spontaneous assembly of chiral structures from building blocks that lack chirality is fundamentally important for colloidal chemistry and has implications for the formation of advanced optical materials. Here, we find that purified achiral gold tetrahedron-shaped nanoparticles assemble into two-dimensional superlattices that exhibit planar chirality under a balance of repulsive electrostatic and attractive van der Waals and depletion forces. A model accounting for these interactions shows that the growth of planar structures is kinetically preferred over similar three-dimensional products, explaining their selective formation.

Methods for producing silver nanostructures with improved dimensional control, yield, purity, monodispersed, and scale of synthesis.

Example nanoparticles may include an iron-based core, and a shell. The shell may include a non-magnetic, anti-ferromagnetic, or ferrimagnetic material. Example alloy compositions may include an iron-based grain, and a grain boundary. The grain boundary may include a non-magnetic, anti-ferromagnetic, or ferrimagnetic material. Example techniques for forming iron-based core-shell nanoparticles may include depositing a shell on an iron-based core. The depositing may include immersing the iron-based core in a salt composition for a predetermined period of time. The depositing may include milling the iron-based core with a salt composition for a predetermined period of time. Example techniques for treating a composition comprising core-shell nanoparticles may include nitriding the composition.

A double frame nanoparticle synthesis method includes: forming a first platinum layer of a closed loop structure on an edge region of a 2-dimensional gold nanoparticle; removing a portion of the gold nanoparticle in an exposed inner region thereof free of the first platinum layer, thereby forming a single frame structure; growing a first gold thin film on the single frame structure; forming a second platinum layer on inner and outer edge regions of the first gold thin film; removing a portion of the first gold thin film in an exposed region thereof free of the second platinum layer, thereby forming a double frame structure having an inner frame of a closed loop structure, and an outer frame having a closed loop structure surrounding the inner frame and partially connected to the inner frame; and forming a second gold thin film on a surface of the double frame structure.

A double frame nanoparticle synthesis method includes: forming a first platinum layer of a closed loop structure on an edge region of a 2-dimensional gold nanoparticle; removing a portion of the gold nanoparticle in an exposed inner region thereof free of the first platinum layer, thereby forming a single frame structure; growing a first gold thin film on the single frame structure; forming a second platinum layer on inner and outer edge regions of the first gold thin film; removing a portion of the first gold thin film in an exposed region thereof free of the second platinum layer, thereby forming a double frame structure having an inner frame of a closed loop structure, and an outer frame having a closed loop structure surrounding the inner frame and partially connected to the inner frame; and forming a second gold thin film on a surface of the double frame structure.