Controlled growth of Ni nanocrystals on SrTiO3 and their application in the catalytic synthesis of carbon nanotubes

Abstract

Truncated pyramid-shaped Ni nanocrystals were epitaxially grown on SrTiO(3)(001) surfaces and characterised by scanning tunneling microscopy (STM). These nanocrystals were shown to be catalytically active for the synthesis of carbon nanotubes (CNTs). The narrow size distribution of the Ni nanocrystals results in a similar narrow distribution of CNT diameters.

Microscopic characterization of Fe nanoparticles formed on SrTiO3(001) and SrTiO3(110) surfaces

“…Attempts have been made to grow metal nanoparticles of controlled sizes and morphologies on its surface by using chemical etching, controlling geometry, fabricating reconstructions and buffer layers, and using ion bombardment [11–15]. For example, Silly et al successfully controlled shapes of nanoparticles by tuning the reconstruction of a STO(001) substrate and the substrate temperature during deposition [12].…”

“…For example, Silly et al successfully controlled shapes of nanoparticles by tuning the reconstruction of a STO(001) substrate and the substrate temperature during deposition [12]. Sun et al also controlled shapes of nanoparticles on a reconstructed STO(001) substrate and utilized them to catalyse carbon nanotubes [15]. However, since these studies image nanoparticles with STM, the exact interfacial structures, which affect the properties of the nanoparticles more than anything else, are not directly obtained.…”

Morphological and Interfacial Studies of Fe Clusters on SrTiO₃(001) Surfaces

“…For example, Silly et al successfully controlled shapes of nanoparticles by tuning STO (001) substrate reconstruction and the substrate temperature during deposition [12]. Sun et al also controlled shapes of nanoparticles on a reconstructed STO (001) substrate and utilized them to catalyse carbon nanotubes [15]. However, since these studies image nanoparticles with STM, the exact interfacial structures, which affect the properties of nanoparticles farthermost, are not obtained directly.…”

“…Efforts have been made to grow metal clusters of controlled sizes and morphologies on its surface by using chemical etching, controlling geometry, fabricating reconstructions and buffer layers, using ionic-bombardment and so on [11][12][13][14][15]. Some of these methods are adequately effective for controlled nanoparticle growth.…”

Out- versus in-plane magnetic anisotropy of free Fe and Co nanocrystals: Tight-binding and first-principles studies

“…The magnetic anisotropy energy of magnetic nanocrystals (e.g., Fe, Co, Ni, etc.) is the subject of intense experimental [2][3][4][5] and theoretical [6][7][8][9][10][11] studies but the ability to grow well-defined magnetic crystalline nanostructures is also a major issue [12][13][14][15][16][17][18]. This is especially the case for Fe and Co nanoclusters that can adopt various crystalline bulk structures, in particular the body-centered-cubic (bcc) and the face-centered-cubic (fcc) structures in low dimensions [15,16].…”