Aluminum Nanocrystals

• DOI: 10.1021/acs.nanolett.5b00614
• Publication Date: 2015-03-19T19:41:06Z
• Authors: Michael J. McClain; Andrea E. Schlather; Emilie Ringe; Nicholas S. King; Lifei Liu; Alejandro Manjavacas; Mark W. Knight; Ish Kumar; Kenton H. Whitmire; Henry O. Everitt; Peter Nordlander; Naomi J. Halas
• Keywords: synthesis; Light; Surface Properties; Metal Nanoparticles; Surface Plasmon Resonance; 01 natural sciences; UV; 0104 chemical sciences; nanocrystal; plasmon; aluminum; Materials Testing; Scattering, Radiation; Particle Size; Crystallization; Aluminum

We demonstrate the facile synthesis of high purity aluminum nanocrystals over a range of controlled sizes from 70 to 220 nm diameter with size control achieved through a simple modification of solvent ratios in the reaction solution. The monodisperse, icosahedral, and trigonal bipyramidal nanocrystals are air-stable for weeks, due to the formation of a 2-4 nm thick passivating oxide layer on their surfaces. We show that the nanocrystals support size-dependent ultraviolet and visible plasmon modes, providing a far more sustainable alternative to gold and silver nanoparticles currently in widespread use.