Ion irradiation to control size, composition and dispersion of metal nanoparticle exsolution

Abstract

Nano-engineered oxides play a frontier role in the development of next-generation catalysts and microelectronics. Recently, metal exsolution from oxides has emerged as a promising nano-structuring tool to fabricate nanoparticle-decorated oxides....

New trends in nanoparticle exsolution

“…One of the latest breakthroughs in the field of exsolution has been the work by Wang et al on the fabrication of exsolved alloy nanoparticles using ion irradiation. 113 The groundbreaking aspect of this novel exsolution technique was to create multi-elemental exsolved nanoparticles in which one of the metal constituents was introduced via an ion beam, rather than being obtained via conventional cation migration from the perovskite crystal structure. 113 In particular, the authors could exsolve ca.…”

“…113 The groundbreaking aspect of this novel exsolution technique was to create multi-elemental exsolved nanoparticles in which one of the metal constituents was introduced via an ion beam, rather than being obtained via conventional cation migration from the perovskite crystal structure. 113 In particular, the authors could exsolve ca. 2 nm FeNi x nanoparticles by applying a 10 keV Ni irradiation on a SrTi 0.65 Fe 0.35 O 3 thin film.…”

Conductive origin and design principles of electrically controllable high conductivity La-doped perovskites

“…For our optimization of perovskite materials, SrTiO 3 -based perovskite oxides are known for their good stability in the redox process and strong resistance to carbon accumulation and toxicity, but they suffer from low ionic conductivity and poor catalytic activity. 30 To enhance the electrocatalytic activity of such materials, elemental doping [31][32][33][34][35] and exsolution [36][37][38][39][40] are oen employed. Li et al 41 successfully improved the catalytic activity of the electrode's electrochemical reaction by achieving high ion-electron mixed conductivity and regulating La doping in perovskite.…”

Femtosecond laser ultrafast photothermal exsolution

“…ion diffusion, reduction, particle growth [1]), potentially to be used as functional interfaces for catalytic and energy applications [2]. Exsolution is often triggered by furnace annealing/sintering in a reductive gas [3][4][5], also available by other methods such as ionic liquid-assisted voltage-driven [6], straindriven [7], electrical-potential-driven [8], quenching treatment [9], thermal shock [10], twice fiber laser treatment [11]), ion irradiation [12], plasma [13] irradiation, and intense pulsed light (IPL) momentary photothermal (>1800 • C within 20 ms [14,15]) treatment. New pathways for exsolution have been opened by non-contact high-energy light/beam irradiation.…”