title: 3D-TEM investigation of the nanostructure of a δ-Al2O3 catalyst support decorated with Pd nanoparticles.
abstract: The electron tomography technique applied in a quantitative way allowed us to characterize a heterogeneous catalyst made of Pd nanoparticles deposited on a δ-Al(2)O(3) lamellar support. In the first step, high resolution tomographic experiments carried out on several typical areas of support have confirmed the hypothesis of formation of δ-Al(2)O(3) proposed in the literature by the coalescence of lateral facets of the γ-Al(2)O(3) precursor. A bimodal porosity was also observed in the arrangement of δ-Al(2)O(3) platelets. In the second step, the Pd nanoparticles were found preferentially anchored on the lateral facets of δ-Al(2)O(3) platelets or on the defects situated on their basal planes. From a general point of view, we have demonstrated once again that the electron tomography technique implemented with nanometre resolution provides unique insight into the structure, morphology and spatial arrangement of components in a complex 3D nanostructure.
authors.affiliation: Institut de Physique et Chimie des Matériaux de Strasbourg (IPCMS), UMR 7504 CNRS-Université de Strasbourg, 23 rue du Loess, BP 43, 67034 Strasbourg Cedex 2, France.
authors.forename: Lucian
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Roiban
authors.forename: Loïc
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Sorbier
authors.forename: Christophe
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Pichon
authors.forename: Cuong
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Pham-Huu
authors.forename: Marc
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Drillon
authors.forename: Ovidiu
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Ersen