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Surface Capping Agents and Their Roles in Shape-Controlled Synthesis of Colloidal Metal Nanocrystals.

Controlling the shapes and related properties of colloidal metal nanocrystals are key to the realization of their vast applications. Surface capping agents, including neutral molecules, ionic species, macromolecules, and biomolecules, have been extensively used to control the evolution of seeds into nanocrystals with diverse but well-controlled shapes. Here we offer a comprehensive review of these agents, with a focus on the mechanistic understanding of their roles in guiding the shape evolution of metal nanocrystals. We begin with a brief introduction to the early history of capping agents in electroplating and bulk crystal growth, followed by discussion of how they affect the thermodynamics and kinetics involved in a synthesis of metal nanocrystals. We then present representative examples involving both experimental and computational studies to highlight the various capping agents, including their binding selectivity, molecular-level interaction with a metal surface, and impacts on the growth of metal nanocrystals. We also showcase progress in leveraging capping agents to generate nanocrystals with complex structures and/or enhance their catalytic properties. Finally, we discuss various strategies for the exchange or removal of capping agents, together with perspectives on future directions.