Nano-size Stars of David

Hybrid nano-particles are systems which combine two or more different materials on the same particle in which the combination provides multi-functionality to the particle. The researchers have been working to try and develop new nano-particles made of two kinds of materials joined together. Dr. Janet Macdonald, a postdoctoral fellow in the research group, worked on synthesizing nano-particles by combining copper sulfide and ruthenium. What she saw from the electron microscope were particles with surprising striped patterns and Star of David shapes.

Then began the difficult task of figuring out the make-up of the particles’ shape. The mystery took months. The researchers generated a three-dimensional image of the tiny nano-particles using a powerful electron microscope and found that the Stars of David are, remarkably, “nano-cages.” The particles are nano-sized hexagonal crystals, each with a tiny metal frame wrapping around and encasing them just like a bird’s cage, but 100 million times smaller. Because the nano-cage is hexagonal, when looking at pictures of them from above, they appear as Stars of David. No one had ever seen hybrid nano-particles form with such a cage structure before.

Exploration into the possible applications for the nano Stars of David has just begun. To learn more, go to www.huji.ac.il to Press Releases or contact Uri Banin Research Group, +972-2-658-4515, banin@chem.ch.huji.ac.il