Platinum nanoparticles were electrocrystallized on amorphous carbon film and on sol−gel modified
carbon film deposited on gold mesh grids. These Pt-modified surfaces were characterized by transmission
electron microscopy and energy dispersive spectroscopy. Particles deposited on bare carbon surfaces exhibited
polytetrahedral crystallographic morphology. Meanwhile, laterally dendritic growth of platinum formed
by aggregation of primary particles (3−5 nm) were found on the sol−gel modified carbon surfaces. This
is a new kind of morphology for electrodeposited platinum with a high specific and accessible surface area,
holding great promise for Pt-catalyzed reactions. The characterization gives direct information on the
microstructures of electrochemically produced particles, facilitating function and structure-correlating
studies.
A functional aerogel composed of interconnected silica nanoparticles has been synthesized from a metastable lamellar composite based on a novel type of cooperative interaction between silica and surfactant species.
Using standard square mesh grids as supports, we have prepared sol-gel membranes from a functionalized silane precursor, bis[3-(triethoxysilyl)propyl]tetrasulfide in various organic solvents. These mesh-supported membranes allow direct characterization of their microstructure and morphology by transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Homogeneous membranes without prominent microstructural features (or featureless) at nanometer scale were obtained from dimethyl formamide (DMF), isopropanol, and butanol solutions. However, highly porous membranes were produced from DMF and ethylene glycol binary system. Heterogeneous membranes filled with nanoparticles were formed from dimethyl sulfoxide solution. The featureless sol-gel membranes with tunable performances provide a useful alternative as supporting films for TEM applications.
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