ABSTRACT
In the nanoregime when two metals are combined within as a single nanoparticle (bimetallic nanoparticles), the optical, electronic, and magnetic properties of the bimetallic particles are directed by a combination of the properties (dielectric constants) of both metals. Such a combination strongly depends on the microscopic arrangement of the metals within the particle, that is, whether an alloy, a perfect core–shell structure, or something in-between is obtained, but in any of these cases there is direct interaction between the metals. These features may be enhanced, modified, or suppressed in the case of bimetallic and multimetallic nanoparticles, because of intermetallic interactions arising from their constitutional and morphological combinations. Totally new functions may be created by overcoming disadvantages of single-component nanoparticles.
