Solving the structure of size-selected Pt nanocatalysts synthesized by inverse micelle encapsulation.
The structure, size, and shape of gamma-Al(2)O(3)-supported Pt nanoparticles (NPs) synthesized by inverse micelle encapsulation have been resolved via a synergistic combination of imaging and spectroscopic tools. It is shown that this synthesis method leads to 3D NP shapes even for subnanometer clusters, in contrast to the raft-like structures obtained for the same systems via traditional deposition-precipitation methods. Furthermore, a high degree of atomic ordering is observed for the micellar NPs in H(2) atmosphere at all sizes studied, possibly due to H-induced surface reconstruction in these high surface area clusters. Our findings demonstrate that the influence of NP/support interactions on NP structure can be diminished in favor of NP/adsorbate interactions when NP catalysts are prepared by micelle encapsulation methods.
Department of Physics, University of Central Florida, Orlando, Florida 32816, USA. roldan@physics.ucf.edu
Beatriz
B
Roldan Cuenya
Jason R
JR
Croy
Simon
S
Mostafa
Farzad
F
Behafarid
Long
L
Li
Zhongfan
Z
Zhang
Judith C
JC
Yang
Qi
Q
Wang
Anatoly I
AI
Frenkel