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Li G, Zakharov DN, Sikder S, Xu Y, Tong X, Dimitrakellis P, Boscoboinik JA. In Situ Monitoring of Non-Thermal Plasma Cleaning of Surfactant Encapsulated Nanoparticles. Nanomaterials (Basel) 2024; 14:290. [PMID: 38334560 PMCID: PMC10856489 DOI: 10.3390/nano14030290] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/28/2023] [Revised: 01/24/2024] [Accepted: 01/26/2024] [Indexed: 02/10/2024]
Abstract
Surfactants are widely used in the synthesis of nanoparticles, as they have a remarkable ability to direct their growth to obtain well-defined shapes and sizes. However, their post-synthesis removal is a challenge, and the methods used often result in morphological changes that defeat the purpose of the initial controlled growth. Moreover, after the removal of surfactants, the highly active surfaces of nanomaterials may undergo structural reconstruction by exposure to a different environment. Thus, ex situ characterization after air exposure may not reflect the effect of the cleaning methods. Here, combining X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, in situ infrared reflection absorption spectroscopy, and environmental transmission electron microscopy measurements with CO probe experiments, we investigated different surfactant-removal methods to produce clean metallic Pt nanoparticles from surfactant-encapsulated ones. It was demonstrated that both ultraviolet-ozone (UV-ozone) treatment and room temperature O2 plasma treatment led to the formation of Pt oxides on the surface after the removal of the surfactant. On the other hand, when H2 was used for plasma treatment, both the Pt0 oxidation state and nanoparticle size distribution were preserved. In addition, H2 plasma treatment can reduce Pt oxides after O2-based treatments, resulting in metallic nanoparticles with clean surfaces. These findings provide a better understanding of the various options for surfactant removal from metal nanoparticles and point toward non-thermal plasmas as the best route if the integrity of the nanoparticle needs to be preserved.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gengnan Li
- Center for Functional Nanomaterials, Brookhaven National Laboratory, Upton, NY 11973, USA; (D.N.Z.); (S.S.); (Y.X.); (X.T.)
| | - Dmitri N. Zakharov
- Center for Functional Nanomaterials, Brookhaven National Laboratory, Upton, NY 11973, USA; (D.N.Z.); (S.S.); (Y.X.); (X.T.)
| | - Sayantani Sikder
- Center for Functional Nanomaterials, Brookhaven National Laboratory, Upton, NY 11973, USA; (D.N.Z.); (S.S.); (Y.X.); (X.T.)
- Department of Materials Science and Chemical Engineering, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY 11790, USA
| | - Yixin Xu
- Center for Functional Nanomaterials, Brookhaven National Laboratory, Upton, NY 11973, USA; (D.N.Z.); (S.S.); (Y.X.); (X.T.)
- Department of Materials Science and Chemical Engineering, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY 11790, USA
| | - Xiao Tong
- Center for Functional Nanomaterials, Brookhaven National Laboratory, Upton, NY 11973, USA; (D.N.Z.); (S.S.); (Y.X.); (X.T.)
| | - Panagiotis Dimitrakellis
- Catalysis Center for Energy Innovation, Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Delaware, Newark, DE 19716, USA;
| | - Jorge Anibal Boscoboinik
- Center for Functional Nanomaterials, Brookhaven National Laboratory, Upton, NY 11973, USA; (D.N.Z.); (S.S.); (Y.X.); (X.T.)
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Zhou L, Sun Y, Wu Y, Zhu Y, Xu Y, Jia J, Wang F, Wang R. Controlled Growth of Pd Nanocrystals by Interface Interaction on Monolayer MoS 2: An Atom-Resolved in Situ Study. Nano Lett 2023. [PMID: 38010863 DOI: 10.1021/acs.nanolett.3c03960] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2023]
Abstract
The crystal growth kinetics is crucial for the controllable preparation and performance modulation of metal nanocrystals (NCs). However, the study of growth mechanisms is significantly limited by characterization techniques, and it is still challenging to in situ capture the growth process. Real-time and real-space imaging techniques at the atomic scale can promote the understanding of microdynamics for NC growth. Herein, the growth of Pd NCs on monolayer MoS2 under different atmospheres was in situ studied by environmental transmission electron microscopy. Introducing carbon monoxide can modulate the diffusion of Pd monomers, resulting in the epitaxial growth of Pd NCs with a uniform orientation. The electron energy loss spectroscopy and theoretical calculations showed that the CO adsorption assured the specific exposed facets and good uniformity of Pd NCs. The insight into the gas-solid interface interaction and the microscopic growth mechanism of NCs may shed light on the precise synthesis of NCs on two-dimensional (2D) materials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liang Zhou
- Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Materials Genome Engineering, Beijing Key Laboratory for Magneto-Photoelectrical Composite and Interface Science, The State Key Laboratory for Advanced Metals and Materials, School of Mathematics and Physics, University of Science and Technology Beijing, Beijing 100083, China
| | - Yinghui Sun
- Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Materials Genome Engineering, Beijing Key Laboratory for Magneto-Photoelectrical Composite and Interface Science, The State Key Laboratory for Advanced Metals and Materials, School of Mathematics and Physics, University of Science and Technology Beijing, Beijing 100083, China
| | - Yusong Wu
- Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Materials Genome Engineering, Beijing Key Laboratory for Magneto-Photoelectrical Composite and Interface Science, The State Key Laboratory for Advanced Metals and Materials, School of Mathematics and Physics, University of Science and Technology Beijing, Beijing 100083, China
| | - Yuchen Zhu
- Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Materials Genome Engineering, Beijing Key Laboratory for Magneto-Photoelectrical Composite and Interface Science, The State Key Laboratory for Advanced Metals and Materials, School of Mathematics and Physics, University of Science and Technology Beijing, Beijing 100083, China
| | - Yingying Xu
- Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Materials Genome Engineering, Beijing Key Laboratory for Magneto-Photoelectrical Composite and Interface Science, The State Key Laboratory for Advanced Metals and Materials, School of Mathematics and Physics, University of Science and Technology Beijing, Beijing 100083, China
| | - Jianfeng Jia
- Key Laboratory of Magnetic Molecules and Magnetic Information Materials of Ministry of Education, School of Chemistry and Materials Science, Shanxi Normal University, Taiyuan 030032, China
| | - Fang Wang
- Key Laboratory of Magnetic Molecules and Magnetic Information Materials of Ministry of Education, School of Chemistry and Materials Science, Shanxi Normal University, Taiyuan 030032, China
| | - Rongming Wang
- Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Materials Genome Engineering, Beijing Key Laboratory for Magneto-Photoelectrical Composite and Interface Science, The State Key Laboratory for Advanced Metals and Materials, School of Mathematics and Physics, University of Science and Technology Beijing, Beijing 100083, China
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3
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Ziashahabi A, Elsukova A, Nilsson S, Beleggia M, Stanley Jørgensen P, Langhammer C, Kadkhodazadeh S. Electron Beam Induced Enhancement and Suppression of Oxidation in Cu Nanoparticles in Environmental Scanning Transmission Electron Microscopy. ACS Nanosci Au 2023; 3:389-397. [PMID: 37868225 PMCID: PMC10588434 DOI: 10.1021/acsnanoscienceau.3c00018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2023] [Revised: 07/17/2023] [Accepted: 07/17/2023] [Indexed: 10/24/2023]
Abstract
We have investigated the effects of high-energy electron irradiation on the oxidation of copper nanoparticles in environmental scanning transmission electron microscopy (ESTEM). The hemispherically shaped particles were oxidized in 3 mbar of O2 in a temperature range 100-200 °C. The evolution of the particles was recorded with sub-nanometer spatial resolution in situ in ESTEM. The oxidation encompasses the formation of outer and inner oxide shells on the nanoparticles, arising from the concurrent diffusion of copper and oxygen out of and into the nanoparticles, respectively. Our results reveal that the electron beam actively influences the reaction and overall accelerates the oxidation of the nanoparticles when compared to particles oxidized without exposure to the electron beam. However, the extent of this electron beam-assisted acceleration of oxidation diminishes at higher temperatures. Moreover, we observe that while oxidation through the outward diffusion of Cu+ cations is enhanced, the electron beam appears to hinder oxidation through the inward diffusion of O2- anions. Our results suggest that the impact of the high-energy electrons in ESTEM oxidation of Cu nanoparticles is mostly related to kinetic energy transfer, charging, and ionization of the gas environment, and the beam can both enhance and suppress reaction rates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Azin Ziashahabi
- DTU
Nanolab, Technical University of Denmark, Fysikvej, 2800 Kgs Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Anna Elsukova
- Thin
Film Physics Division, Department of Physics, Chemistry and Biology
(IFM), Linköping University, Linköping SE-58183, Sweden
| | - Sara Nilsson
- Department
of Physics, Chalmers University of Technology, 412 96 Göteborg, Sweden
| | - Marco Beleggia
- DTU
Nanolab, Technical University of Denmark, Fysikvej, 2800 Kgs Lyngby, Denmark
- Department
of Physics, Informatics and Mathematics, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, 41121 Modena, Italy
| | - Peter Stanley Jørgensen
- Department
of Energy Conversion and Storage, Technical
University of Denmark, Fysikvej, 2800 Kgs. Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Christoph Langhammer
- Department
of Physics, Chalmers University of Technology, 412 96 Göteborg, Sweden
| | - Shima Kadkhodazadeh
- DTU
Nanolab, Technical University of Denmark, Fysikvej, 2800 Kgs Lyngby, Denmark
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Zhao H, Zhu Y, Ye H, He Y, Li H, Sun Y, Yang F, Wang R. Atomic-Scale Structure Dynamics of Nanocrystals Revealed By In Situ and Environmental Transmission Electron Microscopy. Adv Mater 2022:e2206911. [PMID: 36153832 DOI: 10.1002/adma.202206911] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2022] [Revised: 09/05/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Nanocrystals are of great importance in material sciences and industry. Engineering nanocrystals with desired structures and properties is no doubt one of the most important challenges in the field, which requires deep insight into atomic-scale dynamics of nanocrystals during the process. The rapid developments of in situ transmission electron microscopy (TEM), especially environmental TEM, reveal insights into nanocrystals to digest. According to the considerable progress based on in situ electron microscopy, a comprehensive review on nanocrystal dynamics from three aspects: nucleation and growth, structure evolution, and dynamics in reaction conditions are given. In the nucleation and growth part, existing nucleation theories and growth pathways are organized based on liquid and gas-solid phases. In the structure evolution part, the focus is on in-depth mechanistic understanding of the evolution, including defects, phase, and disorder/order transitions. In the part of dynamics in reaction conditions, solid-solid and gas-solid interfaces of nanocrystals in atmosphere are discussed and the structure-property relationship is correlated. Even though impressive progress is made, additional efforts are required to develop the integrated and operando TEM methodologies for unveiling nanocrystal dynamics with high spatial, energy, and temporal resolutions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haofei Zhao
- Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Materials Genome Engineering, University of Science and Technology Beijing, Beijing, 100083, China
- Beijing Key Laboratory for Magneto-Photoelectrical Composite and Interface Science, School of Mathematics and Physics, University of Science and Technology Beijing, Beijing, 100083, China
| | - Yuchen Zhu
- Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Materials Genome Engineering, University of Science and Technology Beijing, Beijing, 100083, China
- Beijing Key Laboratory for Magneto-Photoelectrical Composite and Interface Science, School of Mathematics and Physics, University of Science and Technology Beijing, Beijing, 100083, China
| | - Huanyu Ye
- Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Materials Genome Engineering, University of Science and Technology Beijing, Beijing, 100083, China
- Beijing Key Laboratory for Magneto-Photoelectrical Composite and Interface Science, School of Mathematics and Physics, University of Science and Technology Beijing, Beijing, 100083, China
| | - Yang He
- Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Materials Genome Engineering, University of Science and Technology Beijing, Beijing, 100083, China
- School of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Science and Technology Beijing, Beijing, 100083, China
| | - Hao Li
- Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Materials Genome Engineering, University of Science and Technology Beijing, Beijing, 100083, China
- Beijing Key Laboratory for Magneto-Photoelectrical Composite and Interface Science, School of Mathematics and Physics, University of Science and Technology Beijing, Beijing, 100083, China
| | - Yifei Sun
- Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Materials Genome Engineering, University of Science and Technology Beijing, Beijing, 100083, China
- Beijing Key Laboratory for Magneto-Photoelectrical Composite and Interface Science, School of Mathematics and Physics, University of Science and Technology Beijing, Beijing, 100083, China
| | - Feng Yang
- Department of Chemistry, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Catalysis, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, 518055, China
| | - Rongming Wang
- Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Materials Genome Engineering, University of Science and Technology Beijing, Beijing, 100083, China
- Beijing Key Laboratory for Magneto-Photoelectrical Composite and Interface Science, School of Mathematics and Physics, University of Science and Technology Beijing, Beijing, 100083, China
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5
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Lyu Y, Wang P, Liu D, Zhang F, Senftle TP, Zhang G, Zhang Z, Wang J, Liu W. Tracing the Active Phase and Dynamics for Carbon Nanofiber Growth on Nickel Catalyst Using Environmental Transmission Electron Microscopy. Small Methods 2022; 6:e2200235. [PMID: 35484478 DOI: 10.1002/smtd.202200235] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2022] [Revised: 03/30/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Benefitting from outstanding ability of CC reforming and hydrogen activation, nickel is widely applied for heterogeneous catalysis or producing high-quality carbon structures. This high activity simultaneously induces uncontrollable carbon formation, known as coking. However, the activity origin for growing carbon species remains in debate between the on metallic facets induction and nickel carbide segregation. Herein, carbon growth on Ni catalyst is tracked via in situ microscopy methods. Evidence derived from high-resolution transmission electron microscopy imaging, diffraction, and energy loss spectroscopy unambiguously identifies Ni3 C as the active phase, as opposed to metallic Ni nickel or surface carbides as traditionally believed. Specifically, Ni3 C particle grows carbon nanofibers (CNF) layer-by-layer through synchronized oscillation of tip stretch and atomic step fluctuations. There is an anisotropic stress distribution in Ni3 C that provides the lifting force during nanofiber growth. Density functional theory computations show that it is thermodynamically favorable for Ni3 C to decompose into Ni and surface-adsorbed carbon. Carbonaceous deposits aggregate asymmetrically round the particle because partial surface is exposed to the hydrocarbon environment whereas the bottom side is shielded by the support. This induces a carbon concentration gradient within the particle, which drives C migration through Ni3 C phase before it exits as CNF growth.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yiqiang Lyu
- Key Laboratory for Precision and Non-Traditional Machining Technology of Ministry of Education, Dalian University of Technology, 2 Linggong Road, Dalian, 116024, China
- Division of Energy Research Resources, Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 457 Zhongshan Road, Dalian, Liaoning, 116023, China
| | - Peng Wang
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Rice University, Houston, TX, 77005, USA
| | - Dongdong Liu
- Key Laboratory for Precision and Non-Traditional Machining Technology of Ministry of Education, Dalian University of Technology, 2 Linggong Road, Dalian, 116024, China
- Division of Energy Research Resources, Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 457 Zhongshan Road, Dalian, Liaoning, 116023, China
| | - Fan Zhang
- Division of Energy Research Resources, Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 457 Zhongshan Road, Dalian, Liaoning, 116023, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Thomas P Senftle
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Rice University, Houston, TX, 77005, USA
| | - Guanghui Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Fine Chemicals, PSU-DUT Joint Center for Energy Re-search, School of Chemical Engineering, Dalian University of Technology, Dalian, 116024, China
| | - Zhenyu Zhang
- Key Laboratory for Precision and Non-Traditional Machining Technology of Ministry of Education, Dalian University of Technology, 2 Linggong Road, Dalian, 116024, China
| | - Jianmei Wang
- School of Mechanical Engineering, Taiyuan University of Science and Technology, Taiyuan, 030024, China
| | - Wei Liu
- Division of Energy Research Resources, Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 457 Zhongshan Road, Dalian, Liaoning, 116023, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
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6
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Nassereddine A, Wang Q, Loffreda D, Ricolleau C, Alloyeau D, Louis C, Delannoy L, Nelayah J, Guesmi H. Revealing Size Dependent Structural Transitions in Supported Gold Nanoparticles in Hydrogen at Atmospheric Pressure. Small 2021; 17:e2104571. [PMID: 34761525 DOI: 10.1002/smll.202104571] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2021] [Revised: 09/22/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
The enhancement of the catalytic activity of gold nanoparticles with their decreasing size is often attributed to the increasing proportion of low-coordinated surface sites. This correlation is based on the paradigmatic picture of working gold nanoparticles as perfect crystal forms having complete and static outer surface layers whatever their size. This picture is incomplete as catalysts can dynamically change their structure according to the reaction conditions and as such changes can be eventually size-dependent. In this work, using aberration-corrected environmental electron microscopy, size-dependent crystal structure and morphological evolution in gold nanoparticles exposed to hydrogen at atmospheric pressure, with loss of the face-centered cubic crystal structure of gold for particle size below 4 nm, are revealed for the first time. Theoretical calculations highlight the role of mobile gold atoms in the observed symmetry changes and particle reshaping in the critical size regime. An unprecedented stable surface molecular structure of hydrogenated gold decorating a highly distorted core is identified. By combining atomic scale in situ observations and modeling of nanoparticle structure under relevant reaction conditions, this work provides a fundamental understanding of the size-dependent reactivity of gold nanoparticles with a precise picture of their surface at working conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abdallah Nassereddine
- Laboratoire Matériaux et Phénomènes Quantiques, Université de Paris, CNRS, Paris, F-75013, France
| | - Qing Wang
- ICGM, Univ. Montpellier, CNRS, ENSCM, Montpellier, France
| | - David Loffreda
- Univ Lyon, ENS de Lyon, CNRS UMR 5182, Laboratoire de Chimie, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, Lyon F, 69342, France
| | - Christian Ricolleau
- Laboratoire Matériaux et Phénomènes Quantiques, Université de Paris, CNRS, Paris, F-75013, France
| | - Damien Alloyeau
- Laboratoire Matériaux et Phénomènes Quantiques, Université de Paris, CNRS, Paris, F-75013, France
| | - Catherine Louis
- Sorbonne Université, CNRS, Laboratoire de Réactivité de Surface, LRS, Paris, F 75252, France
| | - Laurent Delannoy
- Sorbonne Université, CNRS, Laboratoire de Réactivité de Surface, LRS, Paris, F 75252, France
| | - Jaysen Nelayah
- Laboratoire Matériaux et Phénomènes Quantiques, Université de Paris, CNRS, Paris, F-75013, France
| | - Hazar Guesmi
- ICGM, Univ. Montpellier, CNRS, ENSCM, Montpellier, France
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7
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Zakhtser A, Naitabdi A, Benbalagh R, Rochet F, Salzemann C, Petit C, Giorgio S. Chemical Evolution of Pt-Zn Nanoalloys Dressed in Oleylamine. ACS Nano 2021; 15:4018-4033. [PMID: 32786209 DOI: 10.1021/acsnano.0c03366] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/28/2023]
Abstract
We report on the shape, composition (from Pt95Zn5 to Pt77Zn23), and surface chemistry of Pt-Zn nanoparticles obtained by reduction of precursors M2+(acac)2- (M2+: Pt2+ and Zn2+) in oleylamine, which serves as both solvent and ligand. We show first that the addition of phenyl ether or benzyl ether determines the composition and shape of the nanoparticles, which point to an adsorbate-controlled synthesis. The organic (ligand)/inorganic (nanoparticles) interface is characterized on the structural and chemical level. We observe that the particles, after washing with ethanol, are coated with oleylamine and the oxidation products of the latter, namely, an aldimine and a nitrile. After exposure to air, the particles oxidize, covering themselves with a few monolayer thick ZnO film, which is certainly discontinuous when the particles are low in zinc. Pt-Zn particles are unstable and prone to losing Zn. We have strong indications that the driving force is the preferential oxidation of the less noble metal. Finally, we show that adsorption of CO on the surface of nanoparticles modifies the oxidation state of amine ligands and attribute it to the displacement of hydrogen adsorbed on Pt. All the structural and chemical information provided by the combination of electron microscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy allows us to give a fairly accurate picture of the surface of nanoparticles and to better understand why Pt-Zn alloys are efficient in certain electrocatalytic reactions such as the oxidation of methanol.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alter Zakhtser
- Sorbonne Université, CNRS, MONARIS, UMR 8233, 4 Place Jussieu, 75005 Paris, France
- Sorbonne Université, CNRS, LCPMR, UMR 7614, 4 Place Jussieu, 75005 Paris, France
| | - Ahmed Naitabdi
- Sorbonne Université, CNRS, LCPMR, UMR 7614, 4 Place Jussieu, 75005 Paris, France
| | - Rabah Benbalagh
- Sorbonne Université, CNRS, LCPMR, UMR 7614, 4 Place Jussieu, 75005 Paris, France
| | - François Rochet
- Sorbonne Université, CNRS, LCPMR, UMR 7614, 4 Place Jussieu, 75005 Paris, France
| | - Caroline Salzemann
- Sorbonne Université, CNRS, MONARIS, UMR 8233, 4 Place Jussieu, 75005 Paris, France
| | - Christophe Petit
- Sorbonne Université, CNRS, MONARIS, UMR 8233, 4 Place Jussieu, 75005 Paris, France
| | - Suzanne Giorgio
- Aix Marseille Université, CNRS, CINaM, UMR 7325, 13288 Marseille, France
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8
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Liu Q, Tang Y, Sun H, Yang T, Sun Y, Du C, Jia P, Ye H, Chen J, Peng Q, Shen T, Zhang L, Huang J. In Situ Electrochemical Study of Na-O 2/CO 2 Batteries in an Environmental Transmission Electron Microscope. ACS Nano 2020; 14:13232-13245. [PMID: 32902955 DOI: 10.1021/acsnano.0c04938] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Metal-air batteries are potential candidates for post-lithium energy storage devices due to their high theoretical energy densities. However, our understanding of the electrochemistry of metal-air batteries is still in its infancy. Herein we report in situ studies of Na-O2/CO2 (O2 and CO2 mixture) and Na-O2 batteries with either carbon nanotubes (CNTs) or Ag nanowires as the air cathode medium in an advanced aberration corrected environmental transmission electron microscope. In the Na-O2/CO2-CNT nanobattery, the discharge reactions occurred in two steps: (1) 2Na+ + 2e- + O2 → Na2O2; (2) Na2O2+ CO2 → Na2CO3 + O2; concurrently a parasitic Na plating reaction took place. The charge reaction proceeded via (3) 2Na2CO3 + C → 4Na+ + 3CO2 + 4e-. In the Na-O2/CO2-Ag nanobattery, the discharge reactions were essentially the same as those for the Na-O2/CO2-CNT nanobattery; however, the charge reaction in the former was very sluggish, suggesting that direct decomposition of Na2CO3 is difficult. In the Na-O2 battery, the discharge reaction occurred via reaction 1, but the reverse reaction was very difficult, indicating the sluggish decomposition of Na2O2. Overall the Na-O2/CO2-CNT nanobattery exhibited much better cyclability and performance than the Na-O2/CO2-Ag and the Na-O2-CNT nanobatteries, underscoring the importance of carbon and CO2 in facilitating the Na-O2 nanobatteries. Our study provides important understanding of the electrochemistry of the Na-O2/CO2 and Na-O2 nanobatteries, which may aid the development of high performance Na-O2/CO2 and Na-O2 batteries for energy storage applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qiunan Liu
- Clean Nano Energy Center, State Key Laboratory of Metastable Materials Science and Technology, Yanshan University, Qinhuangdao 066004, P. R. China
| | - Yongfu Tang
- Clean Nano Energy Center, State Key Laboratory of Metastable Materials Science and Technology, Yanshan University, Qinhuangdao 066004, P. R. China
- Hebei Key Laboratory of Applied Chemistry, College of Environmental and Chemical Engineering, Yanshan University, Qinhuangdao 066004, P. R. China
| | - Haiming Sun
- Clean Nano Energy Center, State Key Laboratory of Metastable Materials Science and Technology, Yanshan University, Qinhuangdao 066004, P. R. China
| | - Tingting Yang
- Clean Nano Energy Center, State Key Laboratory of Metastable Materials Science and Technology, Yanshan University, Qinhuangdao 066004, P. R. China
| | - Yong Sun
- Clean Nano Energy Center, State Key Laboratory of Metastable Materials Science and Technology, Yanshan University, Qinhuangdao 066004, P. R. China
| | - Congcong Du
- Clean Nano Energy Center, State Key Laboratory of Metastable Materials Science and Technology, Yanshan University, Qinhuangdao 066004, P. R. China
| | - Peng Jia
- Clean Nano Energy Center, State Key Laboratory of Metastable Materials Science and Technology, Yanshan University, Qinhuangdao 066004, P. R. China
| | - Hongjun Ye
- Clean Nano Energy Center, State Key Laboratory of Metastable Materials Science and Technology, Yanshan University, Qinhuangdao 066004, P. R. China
| | - Jingzhao Chen
- Clean Nano Energy Center, State Key Laboratory of Metastable Materials Science and Technology, Yanshan University, Qinhuangdao 066004, P. R. China
| | - Qiuming Peng
- Clean Nano Energy Center, State Key Laboratory of Metastable Materials Science and Technology, Yanshan University, Qinhuangdao 066004, P. R. China
| | - Tongde Shen
- Clean Nano Energy Center, State Key Laboratory of Metastable Materials Science and Technology, Yanshan University, Qinhuangdao 066004, P. R. China
| | - Liqiang Zhang
- Clean Nano Energy Center, State Key Laboratory of Metastable Materials Science and Technology, Yanshan University, Qinhuangdao 066004, P. R. China
| | - Jianyu Huang
- Clean Nano Energy Center, State Key Laboratory of Metastable Materials Science and Technology, Yanshan University, Qinhuangdao 066004, P. R. China
- School of Materials Science and Engineering, Xiangtan University, Xiangtan, Hunan 411105, P. R. China
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9
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Carpena-Núñez J, Rao R, Kim D, Bets KV, Zakharov DN, Boscoboinik JA, Stach EA, Yakobson BI, Tsapatsis M, Stacchiola D, Maruyama B. Zeolite Nanosheets Stabilize Catalyst Particles to Promote the Growth of Thermodynamically Unfavorable, Small-Diameter Carbon Nanotubes. Small 2020; 16:e2002120. [PMID: 32812375 DOI: 10.1002/smll.202002120] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/02/2020] [Revised: 06/19/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
A challenge in the synthesis of single-wall carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) is the lack of control over the formation and evolution of catalyst nanoparticles and the lack of control over their size or chirality. Here, zeolite MFI nanosheets (MFI-Ns) are used to keep cobalt (Co) nanoparticles stable during prolonged annealing conditions. Environmental transmission electron microscopy (ETEM) shows that the MFI-Ns can influence the size and shape of nanoparticles via particle/support registry, which leads to the preferential docking of nanoparticles to four or fewer pores and to the regulation of the SWCNT synthesis products. The resulting SWCNT population exhibits a narrow diameter distribution and SWCNTs of nearly all chiral angles, including sub-nm zigzag (ZZ) and near-ZZ tubes. Theoretical simulations reveal that the growth of these unfavorable tubes from unsupported catalysts leads to the rapid encapsulation of catalyst nanoparticles bearing them; their presence in the growth products suggests that the MFI-Ns prevent nanoparticle encapsulation and prologue ZZ and near-ZZ SWCNT growth. These results thus present a path forward for controlling nanoparticle formation and evolution, for achieving size- and shape-selectivity at high temperature, and for controlling SWCNT synthesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer Carpena-Núñez
- Materials and Manufacturing Directorate, Air Force Research Laboratory, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Dayton, OH, 45433, USA
- UES, Inc., Dayton, OH, 45432, USA
| | - Rahul Rao
- Materials and Manufacturing Directorate, Air Force Research Laboratory, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Dayton, OH, 45433, USA
- UES, Inc., Dayton, OH, 45432, USA
| | - Donghun Kim
- Department of Chemical Engineering and Materials Science, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, 55455, USA
- School of Chemical Engineering, Chonnam National University, Buk-gu, Gwangju, 61186, Republic of Korea
| | - Ksenia V Bets
- Department of Materials Science and NanoEngineering, Rice University, Houston, TX, 77005, USA
| | - Dmitri N Zakharov
- Center for Functional Nanomaterials, Brookhaven National Laboratory, Upton, NY, 11973, USA
| | - J Anibal Boscoboinik
- Center for Functional Nanomaterials, Brookhaven National Laboratory, Upton, NY, 11973, USA
| | - Eric A Stach
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
| | - Boris I Yakobson
- Department of Materials Science and NanoEngineering, Rice University, Houston, TX, 77005, USA
- Department of Chemistry, Rice University, Houston, TX, 77005, USA
- Smalley-Curl Institute for Nanoscale Science and Technology, Rice University, Houston, TX, 77005, USA
| | - Michael Tsapatsis
- Department of Chemical Engineering and Materials Science, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, 55455, USA
- Applied Physics Laboratory, John Hopkins University, Laurel, MB, 20723, USA
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering & Institute for NanoBioTechnology, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, 21218, USA
| | - Dario Stacchiola
- Center for Functional Nanomaterials, Brookhaven National Laboratory, Upton, NY, 11973, USA
| | - Benji Maruyama
- Materials and Manufacturing Directorate, Air Force Research Laboratory, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Dayton, OH, 45433, USA
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10
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Levin BDA, Haiber D, Liu Q, Crozier PA. An Open-Cell Environmental Transmission Electron Microscopy Technique for In Situ Characterization of Samples in Aqueous Liquid Solutions. Microsc Microanal 2020; 26:134-138. [PMID: 31948500 DOI: 10.1017/s1431927619015320] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
The desire to image specimens in liquids has led to the development of open-cell and closed-cell techniques in transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The closed-cell approach is currently more common in TEM and has yielded new insights into a number of biological and materials processes in liquid environments. The open-cell approach, which requires an environmental TEM (ETEM), is technically challenging but may be advantageous in certain circumstances due to fewer restrictions on specimen and detector geometry. Here, we demonstrate a novel approach to open-cell liquid TEM, in which we use salt particles to facilitate the in situ formation of droplets of aqueous solution that envelope specimen particles coloaded with the salt. This is achieved by controlling sample temperature between 1 and 10°C and introducing water vapor to the ETEM chamber above the critical pressure for the formation of liquid water on the salt particles. Our use of in situ hydration enables specimens to be loaded into a microscope in a dry state using standard 3 mm TEM grids, allowing specimens to be prepared using trivial sample preparation techniques. Our future aim will be to combine this technique with an in situ light source to study photocorrosion in aqueous environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Barnaby D A Levin
- School for Engineering of Matter, Transport, and Energy, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, USA
| | - Diane Haiber
- School for Engineering of Matter, Transport, and Energy, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, USA
| | - Qianlang Liu
- School for Engineering of Matter, Transport, and Energy, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, USA
| | - Peter A Crozier
- School for Engineering of Matter, Transport, and Energy, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, USA
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11
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Neagu D, Kyriakou V, Roiban IL, Aouine M, Tang C, Caravaca A, Kousi K, Schreur-Piet I, Metcalfe IS, Vernoux P, van de Sanden MCM, Tsampas MN. In Situ Observation of Nanoparticle Exsolution from Perovskite Oxides: From Atomic Scale Mechanistic Insight to Nanostructure Tailoring. ACS Nano 2019; 13:12996-13005. [PMID: 31633907 DOI: 10.1021/acsnano.9b05652] [Citation(s) in RCA: 72] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/12/2023]
Abstract
Understanding and controlling the formation of nanoparticles at the surface of functional oxide supports is critical for tuning activity and stability for catalytic and energy conversion applications. Here, we use a latest generation environmental transmission electron microscope to follow the exsolution of individual nanoparticles at the surface of perovskite oxides, with ultrahigh spatial and temporal resolution. Qualitative and quantitative analysis of the data reveals the atomic scale processes that underpin the formation of the socketed, strain-inducing interface that confers exsolved particles their exceptional stability and reactivity. This insight also enabled us to discover that the shape of exsolved particles can be controlled by changing the atmosphere in which exsolution is carried out, and additionally, this could also produce intriguing heterostructures consisting of metal-metal oxide coupled nanoparticles. Our results not only provide insight into the in situ formation of nanoparticles but also demonstrate the tailoring of nanostructures and nanointerfaces.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dragos Neagu
- School of Engineering , Newcastle University , Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 7RU , United Kingdom
| | - Vasileios Kyriakou
- Dutch Institute for Fundamental Energy Research (DIFFER) , 5612 AJ Eindhoven , The Netherlands
| | - Ioan-Lucian Roiban
- Univ Lyon, Insa-Lyon , Université Claude Bernard Lyon I, CNRS UMR 5510, Mateis, 7 av Jean Capelle , 69621 Villeurbanne Cedex, France
| | - Mimoun Aouine
- Univ. Lyon, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, CNRS - UMR 5256, IRCELYON , 2 avenue A. Einstein , 69626 Villeurbanne , France
| | - Chenyang Tang
- School of Engineering , Newcastle University , Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 7RU , United Kingdom
| | - Angel Caravaca
- Univ Lyon, Insa-Lyon , Université Claude Bernard Lyon I, CNRS UMR 5510, Mateis, 7 av Jean Capelle , 69621 Villeurbanne Cedex, France
| | - Kalliopi Kousi
- School of Engineering , Newcastle University , Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 7RU , United Kingdom
| | - Ingeborg Schreur-Piet
- Department of Chemical Engineering & Chemistry , Eindhoven University of Technology , 5600 MB Eindhoven , The Netherlands
| | - Ian S Metcalfe
- School of Engineering , Newcastle University , Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 7RU , United Kingdom
| | - Philippe Vernoux
- Univ Lyon, Insa-Lyon , Université Claude Bernard Lyon I, CNRS UMR 5510, Mateis, 7 av Jean Capelle , 69621 Villeurbanne Cedex, France
| | - Mauritius C M van de Sanden
- Dutch Institute for Fundamental Energy Research (DIFFER) , 5612 AJ Eindhoven , The Netherlands
- Department of Applied Physics , Eindhoven University of Technology , 5600 MB Eindhoven , The Netherlands
| | - Mihalis N Tsampas
- Dutch Institute for Fundamental Energy Research (DIFFER) , 5612 AJ Eindhoven , The Netherlands
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12
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Taylor CA, Briggs S, Greaves G, Monterrosa A, Aradi E, Sugar JD, Robinson DB, Hattar K, Hinks JA. Investigating Helium Bubble Nucleation and Growth through Simultaneous In-Situ Cryogenic, Ion Implantation, and Environmental Transmission Electron Microscopy. Materials (Basel) 2019; 12:E2618. [PMID: 31426387 DOI: 10.3390/ma12162618] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/02/2019] [Revised: 07/30/2019] [Accepted: 08/13/2019] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
Abstract
Palladium can readily dissociate molecular hydrogen at its surface, and rapidly accept it onto the octahedral sites of its face-centered cubic crystal structure. This can include radioactive tritium. As tritium β-decays with a half-life of 12.3 years, He-3 is generated in the metal lattice, causing significant degradation of the material. Helium bubble evolution at high concentrations can result in blister formation or exfoliation and must therefore be well understood to predict the longevity of materials that absorb tritium. A hydrogen over-pressure must be applied to palladium hydride to prevent hydrogen from desorbing from the metal, making it difficult to study tritium in palladium by methods that involve vacuum, such as electron microscopy. Recent improvements in in-situ ion implantation Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM) allow for the direct observation of He bubble nucleation and growth in materials. In this work, we present results from preliminary experiments using the new ion implantation Environmental TEM (ETEM) at the University of Huddersfield to observe He bubble nucleation and growth, in-situ, in palladium at cryogenic temperatures in a hydrogen environment. After the initial nucleation phase, bubble diameter remained constant throughout the implantation, but bubble density increased with implantation time. β-phase palladium hydride was not observed to form during the experiments, likely indicating that the cryogenic implantation temperature played a dominating role in the bubble nucleation and growth behavior.
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13
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Chmielewski A, Meng J, Zhu B, Gao Y, Guesmi H, Prunier H, Alloyeau D, Wang G, Louis C, Delannoy L, Afanasiev P, Ricolleau C, Nelayah J. Reshaping Dynamics of Gold Nanoparticles under H 2 and O 2 at Atmospheric Pressure. ACS Nano 2019; 13:2024-2033. [PMID: 30620561 DOI: 10.1021/acsnano.8b08530] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Despite intensive research efforts, the nature of the active sites for O2 and H2 adsorption/dissociation by supported gold nanoparticles (NPs) is still an unresolved issue in heterogeneous catalysis. This stems from the absence of a clear picture of the structural evolution of Au NPs at near reaction conditions, i. e., at high pressures and high temperatures. We hereby report real-space observations of the equilibrium shapes of titania-supported Au NPs under O2 and H2 at atmospheric pressure using gas transmission electron microscopy. In situ TEM observations show instantaneous changes in the equilibrium shape of Au NPs during cooling under O2 from 400 °C to room temperature. In comparison, no instant change in equilibrium shape is observed under a H2 environment. To interpret these experimental observations, the equilibrium shape of Au NPs under O2, atomic oxygen, and H2 is predicted using a multiscale structure reconstruction model. Excellent agreement between TEM observations and theoretical modeling of Au NPs under O2 provides strong evidence for the molecular adsorption of oxygen on the Au NPs below 120 °C on specific Au facets, which are identified in this work. In the case of H2, theoretical modeling predicts no interaction with gold atoms that explain their high morphological stability under this gas. This work provides atomic structural information for the fundamental understanding of the O2 and H2 adsorption properties of Au NPs under real working conditions and shows a way to identify the active sites of heterogeneous nanocatalysts under reaction conditions by monitoring the structure reconstruction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adrian Chmielewski
- Université Paris Diderot , Sorbonne Paris Cité, CNRS, Laboratoire Matériaux et Phénomènes Quantiques, UMR 7162, 75013 Paris , France
| | - Jun Meng
- Division of Interfacial Water and Key Laboratory of Interfacial Physics and Technology , Shanghai Institute of Applied Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences , Shanghai 201800 , China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences , Beijing 100049 , China
- Institut Charles Gerhardt Montpellier, CNRS/ENSCM/UM , 240, Avenue du Professeur Emile Jeanbrau , 34090 Montpellier , France
| | - Beien Zhu
- Division of Interfacial Water and Key Laboratory of Interfacial Physics and Technology , Shanghai Institute of Applied Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences , Shanghai 201800 , China
| | - Yi Gao
- Division of Interfacial Water and Key Laboratory of Interfacial Physics and Technology , Shanghai Institute of Applied Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences , Shanghai 201800 , China
| | - Hazar Guesmi
- Institut Charles Gerhardt Montpellier, CNRS/ENSCM/UM , 240, Avenue du Professeur Emile Jeanbrau , 34090 Montpellier , France
| | - Hélène Prunier
- Université Paris Diderot , Sorbonne Paris Cité, CNRS, Laboratoire Matériaux et Phénomènes Quantiques, UMR 7162, 75013 Paris , France
| | - Damien Alloyeau
- Université Paris Diderot , Sorbonne Paris Cité, CNRS, Laboratoire Matériaux et Phénomènes Quantiques, UMR 7162, 75013 Paris , France
| | - Guillaume Wang
- Université Paris Diderot , Sorbonne Paris Cité, CNRS, Laboratoire Matériaux et Phénomènes Quantiques, UMR 7162, 75013 Paris , France
| | - Catherine Louis
- Sorbonne Université, CNRS, Laboratoire de Réactivité de Surface, LRS , F-75252 Paris , France
| | - Laurent Delannoy
- Sorbonne Université, CNRS, Laboratoire de Réactivité de Surface, LRS , F-75252 Paris , France
| | - Pavel Afanasiev
- Université de Lyon, Institut de Recherches sur la Catalyse et l'Environnement de Lyon - IRCELYON - UMR 5256, CNRS-UCB Lyon 1 , 2 Avenue Albert Einstein , 69626 Villeurebanne Cedex, France
| | - Christian Ricolleau
- Université Paris Diderot , Sorbonne Paris Cité, CNRS, Laboratoire Matériaux et Phénomènes Quantiques, UMR 7162, 75013 Paris , France
| | - Jaysen Nelayah
- Université Paris Diderot , Sorbonne Paris Cité, CNRS, Laboratoire Matériaux et Phénomènes Quantiques, UMR 7162, 75013 Paris , France
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14
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Sun X, Zhu W, Wu D, Liu Z, Chen X, Yuan L, Wang G, Sharma R, Zhou G. Atomic-Scale Mechanism of Unidirectional Oxide Growth. Adv Funct Mater 2019; 30:https://doi.org/10.1002/adfm.201906504. [PMID: 33029110 PMCID: PMC7537547] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2023]
Abstract
A fundamental knowledge of the unidirectional growth mechanisms is required for precise control on size, shape, and thereby functionalities of nanostructures. The oxidation of many metals results in oxide nanowire growth with a bicrystal grain boundary along the axial direction. Using transmission electron microscopy that spatially and temporally resolves CuO nanowire growth during the oxidation of copper, here we provide direct evidence of the correlation between unidirectional crystal growth and bicrystal grain boundary diffusion. Based on atomic scale observations of the upward growth at the nanowire tip, oscillatory downward growth of atomic layers on the nanowire sidewall and the parabolic kinetics of lengthening, bicrystal grain boundary diffusion is the mechanism by which Cu ions are delivered from the nanowire root to the tip. Together with density-functional theory calculations, we further show that the asymmetry in the corner-crossing barriers promotes the unidirectional oxide growth by hindering the transport of Cu ions from the nanowire tip to the sidewall facets. We expect the broader applicability of these results in manipulating the growth of nanostructured oxides by controlling the bicrystal grain boundary structure that favors anisotropic diffusion for unidirectional, one-dimensional crystal growth for nanowires or isotropic diffusion for two-dimensional platelet growth.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xianhu Sun
- Department of Mechanical Engineering & Materials Science and Engineering Program, State University of New York, Binghamton, NY 13902, USA
| | - Wenhui Zhu
- Department of Mechanical Engineering & Materials Science and Engineering Program, State University of New York, Binghamton, NY 13902, USA
| | - Dongxiang Wu
- Department of Mechanical Engineering & Materials Science and Engineering Program, State University of New York, Binghamton, NY 13902, USA
| | - Zhenyu Liu
- Department of Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15261, USA
| | - Xiaobo Chen
- Department of Mechanical Engineering & Materials Science and Engineering Program, State University of New York, Binghamton, NY 13902, USA
| | - Lu Yuan
- Department of Mechanical Engineering & Materials Science and Engineering Program, State University of New York, Binghamton, NY 13902, USA
| | - Guofeng Wang
- Department of Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15261, USA
| | - Renu Sharma
- Physical Measurement Laboratory, National Institute of Standards and Technology, Gaithersburg, MD 20899, USA
| | - Guangwen Zhou
- Department of Mechanical Engineering & Materials Science and Engineering Program, State University of New York, Binghamton, NY 13902, USA
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15
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Abstract
A fundamental knowledge of the unidirectional growth mechanisms is required for precise control on size, shape, and thereby functionalities of nanostructures. The oxidation of many metals results in oxide nanowire growth with a bicrystal grain boundary along the axial direction. Using transmission electron microscopy that spatially and temporally resolves CuO nanowire growth during the oxidation of copper, here we provide direct evidence of the correlation between unidirectional crystal growth and bicrystal grain boundary diffusion. Based on atomic scale observations of the upward growth at the nanowire tip, oscillatory downward growth of atomic layers on the nanowire sidewall and the parabolic kinetics of lengthening, bicrystal grain boundary diffusion is the mechanism by which Cu ions are delivered from the nanowire root to the tip. Together with density-functional theory calculations, we further show that the asymmetry in the corner-crossing barriers promotes the unidirectional oxide growth by hindering the transport of Cu ions from the nanowire tip to the sidewall facets. We expect the broader applicability of these results in manipulating the growth of nanostructured oxides by controlling the bicrystal grain boundary structure that favors anisotropic diffusion for unidirectional, one-dimensional crystal growth for nanowires or isotropic diffusion for two-dimensional platelet growth.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xianhu Sun
- Department of Mechanical Engineering & Materials Science and Engineering Program, State University of New York, Binghamton, NY 13902, USA
| | - Wenhui Zhu
- Department of Mechanical Engineering & Materials Science and Engineering Program, State University of New York, Binghamton, NY 13902, USA
| | - Dongxiang Wu
- Department of Mechanical Engineering & Materials Science and Engineering Program, State University of New York, Binghamton, NY 13902, USA
| | - Zhenyu Liu
- Department of Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15261, USA
| | - Xiaobo Chen
- Department of Mechanical Engineering & Materials Science and Engineering Program, State University of New York, Binghamton, NY 13902, USA
| | - Lu Yuan
- Department of Mechanical Engineering & Materials Science and Engineering Program, State University of New York, Binghamton, NY 13902, USA
| | - Guofeng Wang
- Department of Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15261, USA
| | - Renu Sharma
- Physical Measurement Laboratory, National Institute of Standards and Technology, Gaithersburg, MD 20899, USA
| | - Guangwen Zhou
- Department of Mechanical Engineering & Materials Science and Engineering Program, State University of New York, Binghamton, NY 13902, USA
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16
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Nguyen L, Hashimoto T, Zakharov DN, Stach EA, Rooney AP, Berkels B, Thompson GE, Haigh SJ, Burnett TL. Atomic-Scale Insights into the Oxidation of Aluminum. ACS Appl Mater Interfaces 2018; 10:2230-2235. [PMID: 29319290 DOI: 10.1021/acsami.7b17224] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
The surface oxidation of aluminum is still poorly understood despite its vital role as an insulator in electronics, in aluminum-air batteries, and in protecting the metal against corrosion. Here we use atomic resolution imaging in an environmental transmission electron microscope (TEM) to investigate the mechanism of aluminum oxide formation. Harnessing electron beam sputtering we prepare a pristine, oxide-free metal surface in the TEM. This allows us to study, as a function of crystallographic orientation and oxygen gas pressure, the full oxide growth regime from the first oxide nucleation to a complete saturated, few-nanometers-thick surface film.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lan Nguyen
- School of Materials, University of Manchester , Oxford Road, Manchester M13 9PL, United Kingdom
| | - Teruo Hashimoto
- School of Materials, University of Manchester , Oxford Road, Manchester M13 9PL, United Kingdom
| | - Dmitri N Zakharov
- Center for Functional Nanomaterials, Brookhaven National Laboratory , Upton, New York 11973, United States
| | - Eric A Stach
- Center for Functional Nanomaterials, Brookhaven National Laboratory , Upton, New York 11973, United States
- University of Pennsylvania , Laboratory for Research on the Structure of Matter, 3231 Walnut Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 191041, United States
| | - Aidan P Rooney
- School of Materials, University of Manchester , Oxford Road, Manchester M13 9PL, United Kingdom
| | - Benjamin Berkels
- Department of Mathematics, RWTH Aachen University , Schinkelstrasse 2, 52062 Aachen, Germany
| | - George E Thompson
- School of Materials, University of Manchester , Oxford Road, Manchester M13 9PL, United Kingdom
| | - Sarah J Haigh
- School of Materials, University of Manchester , Oxford Road, Manchester M13 9PL, United Kingdom
| | - Tim L Burnett
- School of Materials, University of Manchester , Oxford Road, Manchester M13 9PL, United Kingdom
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17
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Bugnet M, Overbury SH, Wu ZL, Epicier T. Direct Visualization and Control of Atomic Mobility at {100} Surfaces of Ceria in the Environmental Transmission Electron Microscope. Nano Lett 2017; 17:7652-7658. [PMID: 29166035 DOI: 10.1021/acs.nanolett.7b03680] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
Ceria is one of the world's most prominent material for applications in heterogeneous catalysis, as catalyst support or catalyst itself. Despite an exhaustive literature on the structure of reactive facets of CeO2 in line with its catalytic mechanisms, the temporal evolution of the atomic surface structure exposed to realistic redox conditions remains elusive. Here, we provide a direct visualization of the atomic mobility of cerium atoms on {100} surfaces of CeO2 nanocubes at room temperature in high vacuum, O2, and CO2 atmospheres in an environmental transmission electron microscope. Through quantification of the cationic mobility, we demonstrate the control of the surface dynamics under exposure to O2 and CO2 atmospheres, providing opportunities for a better understanding of the intimate catalytic mechanisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Bugnet
- University of Lyon, INSA Lyon, UCBL Lyon 1, MATEIS, UMR 5510 CNRS , 69100 Villeurbanne Cedex, France
| | - S H Overbury
- Chemical Science Division, Center for Nanophase Materials Science, Oak Ridge National Laboratory , Oak Ridge, Tennessee 37831, United States
| | - Z L Wu
- Chemical Science Division, Center for Nanophase Materials Science, Oak Ridge National Laboratory , Oak Ridge, Tennessee 37831, United States
| | - T Epicier
- University of Lyon, INSA Lyon, UCBL Lyon 1, MATEIS, UMR 5510 CNRS , 69100 Villeurbanne Cedex, France
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18
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Gamalski AD, Tersoff J, Stach EA. Atomic Resolution in Situ Imaging of a Double-Bilayer Multistep Growth Mode in Gallium Nitride Nanowires. Nano Lett 2016; 16:2283-8. [PMID: 26990711 DOI: 10.1021/acs.nanolett.5b04650] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/25/2023]
Abstract
We study the growth of GaN nanowires from liquid Au-Ga catalysts using environmental transmission electron microscopy. GaN wires grow in either ⟨112̅0⟩ or ⟨11̅00⟩ directions, by the addition of {11̅00} double bilayers via step flow with multiple steps. Step-train growth is not typically seen with liquid catalysts, and we suggest that it results from low step mobility related to the unusual double-height step structure. The results here illustrate the surprising dynamics of catalytic GaN wire growth at the nanoscale and highlight striking differences between the growth of GaN and other III-V semiconductor nanowires.
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Affiliation(s)
- A D Gamalski
- Center for Functional Nanomaterials, Brookhaven National Laboratory , Upton, New York 11973, United States
| | - J Tersoff
- IBM Research Division, T. J. Watson Research Center , Yorktown Heights, New York 10598, United States
| | - E A Stach
- Center for Functional Nanomaterials, Brookhaven National Laboratory , Upton, New York 11973, United States
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19
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Lee SC, Benck JD, Tsai C, Park J, Koh AL, Abild-Pedersen F, Jaramillo TF, Sinclair R. Chemical and Phase Evolution of Amorphous Molybdenum Sulfide Catalysts for Electrochemical Hydrogen Production. ACS Nano 2016; 10:624-632. [PMID: 26624225 DOI: 10.1021/acsnano.5b05652] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Abstract
Amorphous MoSx is a highly active, earth-abundant catalyst for the electrochemical hydrogen evolution reaction. Previous studies have revealed that this material initially has a composition of MoS3, but after electrochemical activation, the surface is reduced to form an active phase resembling MoS2 in composition and chemical state. However, structural changes in the MoSx catalyst and the mechanism of the activation process remain poorly understood. In this study, we employ transmission electron microscopy (TEM) to image amorphous MoSx catalysts activated under two hydrogen-rich conditions: ex situ in an electrochemical cell and in situ in an environmental TEM. For the first time, we directly observe the formation of crystalline domains in the MoSx catalyst after both activation procedures as well as spatially localized changes in the chemical state detected via electron energy loss spectroscopy. Using density functional theory calculations, we investigate the mechanisms for this phase transformation and find that the presence of hydrogen is critical for enabling the restructuring process. Our results suggest that the surface of the amorphous MoSx catalyst is dynamic: while the initial catalyst activation forms the primary active surface of amorphous MoS2, continued transformation to the crystalline phase during electrochemical operation could contribute to catalyst deactivation. These results have important implications for the application of this highly active electrocatalyst for sustainable H2 generation.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Charlie Tsai
- SUNCAT Center for Interface Science and Catalysis , SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory, Menlo Park, California 94025, United States
| | | | | | - Frank Abild-Pedersen
- SUNCAT Center for Interface Science and Catalysis , SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory, Menlo Park, California 94025, United States
| | - Thomas F Jaramillo
- SUNCAT Center for Interface Science and Catalysis , SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory, Menlo Park, California 94025, United States
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20
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Picher M, Lin PA, Gomez-Ballesteros JL, Balbuena PB, Sharma R. Nucleation of graphene and its conversion to single-walled carbon nanotubes. Nano Lett 2014; 14:6104-8. [PMID: 25329750 DOI: 10.1021/nl501977b] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/14/2023]
Abstract
We use an environmental transmission electron microscope to record atomic-scale movies showing how carbon atoms assemble together on a catalyst nanoparticle to form a graphene sheet that progressively lifts-off to convert into a nanotube. Time-resolved observations combined with theoretical calculations confirm that some nanoparticle facets act like a vice-grip for graphene, offering anchoring sites, while other facets allow the graphene to lift-off, which is the essential step to convert into a nanotube.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthieu Picher
- Center for Nanoscale Science and Technology, National Institute of Standards and Technology , Gaithersburg, Maryland 20899-6203, United States
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