Use of reverse micelles to make either spherical or worm-like palladium nanocrystals: influence of stabilizing agent on nanocrystal shape.

Depending on the water content, reverse micelles induce the formation of fcc metallic palladium worm-like nanocrystals made of spheres. After extraction from the nanoreactor, either spheres or worm-like nanocrystals are obtained, and it was found that the binding energy between the coating agent and the Pd surface is a key parameter in shape control (i.e., in the surface reconstruction).