Synthesis of Au-CdS- Fe₃O₄ Ternary Hybrid Nanostructures via SLS Mechanism

In the last decades, various methods were developed to form hybrid nanostructures and multicomponent materials due to their unique properties. The methods enable the synthesis of a wide range of heterostructures but are still constrained by surface chemistry considerations that limit the material combinations, morphologies, and configurations that can be attained. Thus, there is a tremendous interest in developing new synthetic approaches.

Our group developed a novel approach for the formation of ternary hybrid nanostructures using Au-metal oxide catalysts. This approach consists of a combination of two different methods: seeded growth and the solution-liquid-solid (SLS) mechanism. Applying this approach, we have synthesized ternary nanostructures consisting of Au-CdS-Fe₃O₄ using Au-Fe₃O₄ dimers as a catalyst. Introducing the cadmium solution to the Au-Fe₃O₄ solution at high temperature formed AuCd_x alloy, which has a lower melting point. The AuCd_x tip functions as a SLS catalyst and allows the formation of a CdS rod with different lengths between the gold and iron oxide.