Lattice Mismatch Drives Site-Selective Growth of Bimetallic Janus Nanocrystals

In the case of a large lattice mismatch, a substantial amount of strain energy will arise at the interface owing to distortions to both lattices. As a result, the subsequent deposition will more likely occur at the just nucleated sites (i.e., the lattice-matched area) to mitigate this interfacial strain, prompting the formation of bimetallic Janus nanocrystals in a site-selective manner. This phenomenon can be attributed to the minimization of interfacial strain energy. The lattice mismatch between the two materials leads to distortions in both lattices, resulting in a significant amount of strain energy accumulated at the interface. To relieve this strain, subsequent deposition preferentially occurs at the lattice-matched areas, where the strain energy is lower. This site-selective deposition process ultimately leads to the formation of Janus nanocrystals, where two distinct materials are joined together with a defined interface.