Abstract:Building on the application of cuprite (Cu 2 O) in solar energy technologies and reports of increased optical absorption caused by metal-to-semiconductor energy transfer, a confinement-based strategy was developed to fabricate high aspect ratio, crystalline Cu 2 O nanorods containing entrapped gold nanoparticles (Au nps). Cu 2 O was crystallized within the confines of track-etch membrane pores, where this physical, assembly-based method eliminates the necessity of specific chemical interactions to achieve a well-defined metalsemiconductor interface. With high-resolution scanning/transmission electron microscopy (S/TEM) and tomography, we demonstrate the encasement of the majority of Au nps by crystalline Cu 2 O and show that crystalline Au-Cu 2 O interfaces that are free of extended amorphous regions. Such nanocrystal heterostructures are good candidates for studying the transport physics of metal/semiconductor hybrids for optoelectronic applications.

Abstract:A promising approach to obtaining multi-functional materials with tunable properties is the incorporation of second phase constituents (e.g., particles, fibers) within inorganic crystals. To date, however, the specific chemical and physical controls over incorporation are only known for a few select systems. In this study, a simple wedge is used as a confining structure to systematically control the chemical and physical aspects of the crystallization microenvironment to promote the interaction between copper (I) oxide (Cu2O) crystals and alkanethiolfunctionalized gold nanoparticles (Au np), producing a metal-semiconductor composite. Physically, the confining wedge geometry provides (vapor) diffusion-limited growth conditions. Chemically functionalizing both the Au np surfaces and the glass slides that form the wedge promotes the interaction of Au np with the growing Cu2O crystals. The physical confinement of the wedge structure, as well as optimization of its surface chemistry are required to achieve this interaction. These findings demonstrate that Au/Cu2O can be used as a model system to inform the synthesis of other metal-semiconductor heterostructures.

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