Electron Tunneling Induced Periodic Nucleation and Growth of Nanoparticles: Physical Basis of Chemical Reduction

We have developed a periodic nucleation and growth mechanism for nanoparticle-aggregated structure based on electron tunneling process that occurs in chemical replacement reactions. This electron tunneling process, which is a fundamental physical phenomenon, successfully explains the repeated formation of nanoparticles that has been observed in the experiment. Using the nanoparticle-mediated progress, we have interpreted the origin of layer-by-layer nanoparticle stacking polycrystalline nanostructures and mesocrystal in chemical reductions.