A unique pathway of PtNi nanoparticle formation observed with liquid cell transmission electron microscopy

Abstract

An understanding of nanoparticle growth is significant for controlled synthesis of nanomaterials with desired physical and chemical properties.

In Situ Kinetic Observations on Crystal Nucleation and Growth

“…347 In another example by Zheng et al, the solute concentration controlled nucleation and growth pathways in the formation of PtNi NPs using in situ LCTEM were reported. 348 When the concentration of Pt(acac) 2 and Ni(acac) 2 in benzyl or in the oleic acid with oleylamine solvent was 0.045 M, the PtNi NPs were obtained directly. When the solute concentration was in a range between 0.045 and 0.05 M, the Ni seed-mediated secondary nucleation and alloy mechanism was confirmed, highlighting the influence of experimental parameters on the formation of alloying NPs.…”

Tracking the redox reaction-induced reconstruction of NiAu nanoparticles via environmental scanning transmission electron microscopy

“…Noble-transition bimetallic nanomaterials have become an attractive subject for both experimental and theoretical studies for many years. 1,2 This is not only due to the less consumption of noble metals but also their potential unique catalytic properties, which are absent in their monometallic counterparts. 3,4 In particular, bimetallic nanoparticle (NP) catalysts containing Au (e.g., Ni-Au) show various intriguing catalytic properties, such as excellent CO 2 hydrogenation activity, superior activity and robust durability for hydrogen evolution reaction, great sensitivity on non-enzymatic glucose sensing and high efficiency in automotive exhaust gas purification.…”

Correlating 3D Surface Atomic Structure and Catalytic Activities of Pt Nanocrystals

“…These nanocrystals have well-defined surface structures that allow mechanistic understanding of surface reactions based on bulk surface chemistry and theoretical calculations. However, heterogeneous catalysts with controlled facets are of limited practical use due to the difficulties in creating homogeneous synthetic thermodynamics and surface structure geometries in batch-scale synthesis [24][25][26] .…”

“…Metal nanocrystals with cubic, octahedral, and cuboctahedral shapes selectively enclosed by {111} and {100} facets are good examples that show superior activity or selectivity for many important catalytic reactions. − These nanocrystals have well-defined surface structures that allow mechanistic understanding of surface reactions based on bulk surface chemistry and theoretical calculations. However, heterogeneous catalysts with controlled facets are of limited practical use due to the difficulties in creating homogeneous synthetic thermodynamics and surface structure geometries in batch-scale synthesis. − …”