Special Issue: Controlled Nanocrystal Growth

Nanoparticles are fundamental to modern science and technology. The control over nanocrystal growth allows researchers to tailor the size and morphology of the nanoparticles and therefore its properties enhancing its usefulness for a given application. This special issue was designed to encompass the controlled growth of nanocrystals from different points of view. For instance, Rodríguez-González reviewed the controlled growth of colloidal gold nanoparticles with especial emphasis on the role of the seed crystalline structure and overgrowth mechanism. On the other hand, the formation of biogenic nanocrystals through biomineralization has been reviewed by Addadi. They describe in detail four biological systems that produce nanoscale crystals using different mineralization pathways; bone crystals composites, guanine nanocrystals reflectors, magnetotactic bacteria with single domain magnets and coccoliths. Finally, they addressed the specific and common principles involved in nanocrystal formation in biology. Alternatively, Rodríguez-Fernández provides an overview on the role of biomolecules as active elements to influence the formation of inorganic nanoparticles. They discuss the templating and non-templating roles of different biomolecules such as DNA, amino acids, peptides, proteins and enzymes, in the assisted metal and semiconductor nanoparticle synthesis and growth. The selective deposition of a metal on top of another metal to obtain either multimetallic or nanocomposite architectures is represented by the original contribution from Millstone. The aqueous-based deposition of Cu on the surface of Au nanoprism seeds in either an island or shell motif is described, analysing the different critical parameters to achieve the desired Cu deposition. Alternatively, the original contribution by Guerrero-Martínez shows that the surface chemistry of metal nanoparticles is not only for their controlled growth but also for their further functionalization, demonstrating that thiolated non-ionic surfactants could promote the silica coating of the particles We would like to thank Prof. Ehud Keinan for bringing up the idea, and inviting us to serve as guest editors of this special issue, and to Dr. Brian Johnson of Wiley-VCH, for his kind and continuous support. Finally, we wish to thank all the authors of this issue for their efforts and valuable contributions. 1 1 1 Dr. Isabel Pastoriza-Santos Dr. Marek Grzelczak Dr. Jorge Pérez-Juste University of Vigo CIC Biomagune University of Vigo Guest Editor Guest Editor Guest Editor