Anion Exchange Impedes Subsequent Cation Exchange: Ion Mobility Is Altered by Vacancies and Ion Size.

One method of achieving spatially specific, multi-component nanoheterostructures is to combine multiple forms of post-synthetic modification. Applying cation or anion exchange to CuS nanorods creates complex nanoheterostructures. Combining such anion and cation exchanges generates a system which uncovers the interplay between these two processes and understands the cooperativity between postsynthetic modifications more broadly.

Heterostructures of CuS/CuTe plasmonic semiconductors: disappearing and reappearing LSPR with anion exchange.

Localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) of CuS nanorods is quenched during the initial CuS/CuTe core/shell stage of anion exchange then returns as CuTe progresses into the nanorod. Phase change within the core accounts for this behaviour illustrating the complexity emergent from anion exchange.