Experimental High-Resolution Observation of the Truncated Double-Icosahedron Structure: A Stable Twinned Shell in Alloyed Au–Ag Core@Shell Nanoparticles

Abstract

Given the binary nature of nanoalloy systems, their properties are dependent on their size, shape, structure, composition, and chemical ordering. When energy and entropic factors for shapes and structure variations are considered in nanoparticle growth, the spectra of shapes become so vast that even metastable arrangements have been reported under ambient conditions. Experimental and theoretical variations of multiply twinned particles have been observed, from the Ino and Marks decahedra to polyicosahedra and polydecahedra with comparable energetic stability among them. Herein, we report the experimental production of a stable doubly truncated double-icosahedron structure (TdIh) in Au−Ag nanoparticles, in which a twinned Ag-rich alloyed shell is reconstructed on a Au−Ag alloyed Inodecahedral core. The structure, chemical composition, and growth pathway are proposed on the basis of high-angle annular darkfield scanning transmission electron microscopy analysis and excess energy calculations, while its structural stability is estimated by large-scale atomic molecular dynamics simulations. This novel nanostructure differs from other structures previously reported.