Synthesis of plasmonic Cu2-xSe@ZnS Core@Shell nanoparticles

We report the synthesis of plasmonic Cu2-xSe@ZnS core@shell nanoparticles (NPs). We used a shell growth approach, starting from Cu2-xSe NPs that have been shown before to exhibit a localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR). By careful synthesis planning we avoided cation exchange reactions and received core@shell nanoparticles that, after oxidation under air, exhibit a strong LSPR in the NIR. Interestingly, the crystalline, closed ZnS shell that we grew with variable thickness still allowed a slow oxidation of the core under ambient conditions, while the core was effectively protected from reduction, even in the presence of reducing agents such as borane tert-butyamine complex and diisobutylaluminum hydride, giving rise to a stable particle LSPR, also under strongly reducing conditions.