Preparation of Asymmetric Nanostructures through Site Selective Modification of Tetrapods

CdTe tetrapods have been deposited on a substrate and partially coated with a protective polymer layer, exposing just one arm. The exposed arm was then decorated with Au nanoparticles in a site selective fashion. The modified arms were readily broken off from the remainder of the tetrapods and released from the substrate, yielding CdTe nanorods asymmetrically modified with Au nanoparticles. These nanostructures with reduced symmetry may show interesting optoelectronic properties.