Ultrafast and surfactant-free synthesis of bimetallic alloy nanopeanuts: First-longitudinal-then-radial growth starting from slightly inert metal seeds

An ultrafast and surfactant-free synthetic route on high yield of bimetallic alloy nanopeanuts (e.g., Au/Ag and Pt/Pd) was discovered in one pot of boiling aqueous solution (125   °C). The other half of peanut underwent longitudinal growth starting from a certain {111} plane of slightly inert metal seed and then radial expansive growth with the predominant {200} plane, while their size and shape can be facilely tuned by precisely control the dosage of the reactants.