Observation of nanoparticle coalescence during core-shell metallic nanowire growth in colloids via nanoscale imaging

Dahai Yang, Xingyu Zhang (), Ruijie Yang, Bolin Zou, Rui Huang, Colin Ophus, Chengyu Song, Sheng Cheng, Juyeong Kim, Hui Xiong, Xianqi Wu, Mufan Li, Yong Wang, Hongfa Xiang, Zihao Ou () and Xiaohui Song ()
Additional contact information
Dahai Yang: Hefei University of Technology
Xingyu Zhang: Beijing University of Technology
Ruijie Yang: University of Calgary
Bolin Zou: Hefei University of Technology
Rui Huang: Hefei University of Technology
Colin Ophus: Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory
Chengyu Song: Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory
Sheng Cheng: University of Technology
Juyeong Kim: Gyeongsang National University
Hui Xiong: Hefei University of Technology
Xianqi Wu: Hefei University of Technology
Mufan Li: Pecking University
Yong Wang: Jiangsu University
Hongfa Xiang: Hefei University of Technology
Zihao Ou: The University of Texas at Dallas
Xiaohui Song: Hefei University of Technology

Nature Communications, 2025, vol. 16, issue 1, 1-14

Abstract: Abstract The surface morphology and shape of crystalline nanowires significantly influence their functional properties, including phonon transport, electrocatalytic performance, to name but a few. However, the kinetic pathways driving these morphological changes remain underexplored due to challenges in real-space and real-time imaging at single-particle and atomic resolutions. This study investigates the dynamics of shell (Au, Pd, Pt, Fe, Cu, Ni) deposition on AuAg alloy seed nanowires during core-shell formation. By using chiral/non-chiral seed nanowires, advanced imaging techniques, including liquid-phase transmission electron microscopy (LPTEM), cryogenic TEM, and three-dimensional electron tomography, a three-step deposition process is revealed: heterogeneous nucleation, nanoparticle attachment, and coalescence. It is found that colloidal Ostwald ripening, metal reactivity, and deposition amount modulate nanoparticle size and surface roughness, shaping final morphologies. Noble metal nanoparticles (Au, Ag, Pd, Pt) coalesce with seed nanowire along the 〈111〉 direction, distinct from that of other metals. These findings are consistent across different metals, including Ru, Cu, Fe, and Ni, highlighting the hypothesis of these processes in nanowire formation. These findings enhance traditional crystallographic theories and provide a framework for designing nanowire morphology. Additionally, our imaging techniques may be applied to investigate phenomena like electrodeposition, dendrite growth in batteries, and membrane deformation.

Date: 2025
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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-025-60135-3

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