How to control the shape of metal nanostructures in organic solution phase synthesis for plasmonics and catalysis

•We investigate the shape control of metal nanocrystals in the organic solution phase.•A range of complex shapes is reported including rod- and pod-like, porous branched and dendritic nanocrystals.•We investigate a range of metals including; Pt, Pd, Au, Co, Ni, Ru and bimetallics.•We report on their superior performance in plasmonic and catalytic applications.

SummaryThis review provides an insight into the shape control of complex metal nanocrystals in organic solution phase synthesis. The organic solution phase provides a promising route to achieve shape control in metal nanocrystal synthesis due to a broad range of reaction parameters and the use of organic surfactants. Key synthetic strategies which have been used to achieve complex shapes by controlling nanocrystal formation away from thermal equilibrium are introduced. The review then discusses synthetic methods to form various complex shapes including: rod- and pod-like; branched, porous and dendritic; and complex shaped bimetallic nanostructures. The application of complex shaped metal nanostructures into plasmonics and catalysis is discussed, along with descriptions of their exciting performance enhancements.

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