Shape control of size-selected naked platinum nanocrystals

Yu Xia; Diana Nelli; Riccardo Ferrando; Jun Yuan; Z Y Li

doi:10.1038/s41467-021-23305-7

Shape control of size-selected naked platinum nanocrystals

Yu Xia, Diana Nelli, Riccardo Ferrando^*, Jun Yuan^*, Z Y Li^*

^*Corresponding author for this work

Physics

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

Abstract

Controlled growth of far-from-equilibrium-shaped nanoparticles with size selection is essential for the exploration of their unique physical and chemical properties. Shape control by wet-chemistry preparation methods produces surfactant-covered surfaces with limited understanding due to the complexity of the processes involved. Here, we report the controlled production and transformation of octahedra to tetrahedra of size-selected platinum nanocrystals with clean surfaces in an inert gas environment. Molecular dynamics simulations of the growth reveal the key symmetry-breaking atomic mechanism for this autocatalytic shape transformation, confirming the experimental conditions required. In-situ heating experiments demonstrate the relative stability of both octahedral and tetrahedral Pt nanocrystals at least up to 700 °C and that the extended surface diffusion at higher temperature transforms the nanocrystals into equilibrium shape.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	3019
Journal	Nature Communications
Volume	12
Issue number	1
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-021-23305-7
Publication status	Published - 21 May 2021

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10.1038/s41467-021-23305-7Licence: CC BY

s41467-021-23305-7
© 2021, The Author(s).
Final published version, 1.91 MBLicence: CC BY

1 Finished

Towards an Atomic-scale Understanding of 3D Structures of Size selected Clusters on Surface
Yuan, J. (Principal investigator)
EPSRC
1/04/10 → 31/03/14
Project: Research project (funded) › Research

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title = "Shape control of size-selected naked platinum nanocrystals",

abstract = "Controlled growth of far-from-equilibrium-shaped nanoparticles with size selection is essential for the exploration of their unique physical and chemical properties. Shape control by wet-chemistry preparation methods produces surfactant-covered surfaces with limited understanding due to the complexity of the processes involved. Here, we report the controlled production and transformation of octahedra to tetrahedra of size-selected platinum nanocrystals with clean surfaces in an inert gas environment. Molecular dynamics simulations of the growth reveal the key symmetry-breaking atomic mechanism for this autocatalytic shape transformation, confirming the experimental conditions required. In-situ heating experiments demonstrate the relative stability of both octahedral and tetrahedral Pt nanocrystals at least up to 700 °C and that the extended surface diffusion at higher temperature transforms the nanocrystals into equilibrium shape.",

author = "Yu Xia and Diana Nelli and Riccardo Ferrando and Jun Yuan and Li, {Z Y}",

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AU - Nelli, Diana

AU - Ferrando, Riccardo

AU - Yuan, Jun

AU - Li, Z Y

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Y1 - 2021/5/21

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AB - Controlled growth of far-from-equilibrium-shaped nanoparticles with size selection is essential for the exploration of their unique physical and chemical properties. Shape control by wet-chemistry preparation methods produces surfactant-covered surfaces with limited understanding due to the complexity of the processes involved. Here, we report the controlled production and transformation of octahedra to tetrahedra of size-selected platinum nanocrystals with clean surfaces in an inert gas environment. Molecular dynamics simulations of the growth reveal the key symmetry-breaking atomic mechanism for this autocatalytic shape transformation, confirming the experimental conditions required. In-situ heating experiments demonstrate the relative stability of both octahedral and tetrahedral Pt nanocrystals at least up to 700 °C and that the extended surface diffusion at higher temperature transforms the nanocrystals into equilibrium shape.

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VL - 12

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JO - Nature Communications

JF - Nature Communications

IS - 1

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Shape control of size-selected naked platinum nanocrystals

Abstract

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Towards an Atomic-scale Understanding of 3D Structures of Size selected Clusters on Surface

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