Fig. 2.

Monitoring of scrambling of GSAs between the nanocubes by ESI-TOF mass spectrometry and scrambling mechanism. a The scrambling of GSAs between 1₆ and (1D)₆ was monitored in different concentrations. Right after the mixing of aqueous solutions of 1₆ and (1D)₆, strong signals for the homoleptic nanocubes (indicated by solid blue and red circles) were observed. These signals became weak with time and new signals assigned to heteroleptic nanocubes appeared in between the two signals. The scrambling takes place faster in lower concentration of the nanocubes. b The scrambling of GSAs between 2₆ and (2D)₆. The scrambling was completed right after the mixing of 2₆ and (2D)₆, which is much faster than the scrambling between 1₆ and (1D)₆. c The scrambling of GSAs between 1₆ and 2₆ was monitored after mixing of aqueous solutions of 1₆ and 2₆. The conversion of the less stable nanocube (2₆) into heteroleptic nanocubes, 1_x2_6−x (x = 1–5), is faster than that of 1₆. d The scrambling of GSAs between the nanocubes A₆ and B₆ takes place through the exchange of monomer GSAs dissociated from the nanocubes. After the formation of heteroleptic nanocubes A_xB_6−x (x = 1–5), the scrambling of A_xB_6−x (x = 1–5) with the less stable homoleptic nanocube takes place faster than with the more stable one