Shape-controlled metal nanocrystals have attracted growing interest due to their enhanced catalytic performance, cost-efficiency, and well-defined features for mechanistic investigations. However, the ultimate potential of these nanocrystals is limited by their surface heterogeneity. This review delves into the intricacies of surface heterogeneity, examining its role in dictating the sites for atom deposition and thereby the growth pattern of metal nanocrystals during colloidal synthesis. We also highlight the critical role of surface diffusion in preserving or overriding the impacts of surface heterogeneity, alongside the dynamic nature of surface structure throughout nanocrystal growth. Understanding and controlling the surface heterogeneity of nanocrystals are essential to the development of advanced catalytic materials.

形状控制的金属纳米晶体由于其增强的催化性能、成本效益和用于机械研究的明确特征而引起了越来越多的兴趣。然而，这些纳米晶体的最终潜力受到其表面异质性的限制。这篇综述深入研究了表面异质性的复杂性，研究了其在决定原子沉积位点以及胶体合成过程中金属纳米晶体的生长模式中的作用。我们还强调了表面扩散在保持或克服表面异质性影响方面的关键作用，以及整个纳米晶体生长过程中表面结构的动态性质。了解和控制纳米晶体的表面异质性对于先进催化材料的开发至关重要。