Synthesis and characterization of catalytic iridium nanoparticles in imidazolium ionic liquids

Abstract The reduction of [Ir(cod)Cl]2 (cod = 1,5-cyclooctadiene) dissolved in 1-n-butyl-3-methyl tetrafluoroborate, hexafluorophosphate and trifluoromethane sulphonate ionic liquids in the presence of 1-decene by molecular hydrogen produces Ir(0) nanoparticles. The formation of these nanoparticles follows the two-step [A → B, A + B → 2B ( k 1 , k 2 )] autocatalytic mechanism. The same mean diameter values of around 2–3 nm were estimated from in situ TEM and SAXS analyses of the Ir(0) nanoparticles dispersed in the ionic liquids and by XRD of the isolated material. XPS and EXAFS analyses clearly show the interactions of the ionic liquid with the metal surface demonstrating the formation of …

Charge transfer effects on the chemical reactivity of PdxCu1−xnanoalloys

This work reports on the synthesis and characterization of PdxCu1-x (x = 0.7, 0.5 and 0.3) nanoalloys obtained via an eco-friendly chemical reduction method based on ascorbic acid and trisodium citrate. The average size of the quasi-spherical nanoparticles (NPs) obtained by this method was about 4 nm, as observed by TEM. The colloids containing different NPs were then supported on carbon in order to produce powder samples (PdxCu1-x/C) whose electronic and structural properties were probed by different techniques. XRD analysis indicated the formation of crystalline PdCu alloys with a nanoscaled crystallite size. Core-level XPS results provided a fingerprint of a charge transfer process betwe…

Structural, electronic, and magnetic properties of tetragonalMn3−xGa: Experiments and first-principles calculations

This work reports on the electronic, magnetic, and structural properties of the binary intermetallic compounds ${\mathrm{Mn}}_{3\ensuremath{-}x}\mathrm{Ga}$. The tetragonal ${\mathrm{DO}}_{22}$ phase of the ${\mathrm{Mn}}_{3\ensuremath{-}x}\mathrm{Ga}$ series, with $x$ varying from 0 to 1.0 in steps of $x=0.1$, was successfully synthesized and investigated. It was found that all these materials are hard magnetic, with energy products ranging from $10.1\phantom{\rule{0.3em}{0ex}}\mathrm{kJ}\phantom{\rule{0.2em}{0ex}}{\mathrm{m}}^{\ensuremath{-}3}$ for low Mn content $(x\ensuremath{\rightarrow}1)$ to $61.6\phantom{\rule{0.3em}{0ex}}\mathrm{kJ}\phantom{\rule{0.2em}{0ex}}{\mathrm{m}}^{\ensurema…

Unraveling the Formation of Core−Shell Structures in Nanoparticles by S-XPS

The combination of the surface sensitivity of X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) with the high flux and variable photon energy excitation of Synchrotron radiation (S-XPS) is used to probe the atomic distribution of bimetallic nanoparticles. Based on the energy dependence of the photoemission differential cross section of core level photoelectrons, we propose a methodology to monitor the formation and to evaluate sizes of the core−shell structure. We have successfully applied it to unveil the mechanism involved in the atomic rearrangement of thermally treated Pt0.7Pd0.3 nanoparticles.

EXAFS-Messungen an dotierten Heusler-Verbindungen

Short and long range order of Half-Heusler phases in (Ti,Zr,Hf)CoSb thermoelectric compounds

Abstract The structural properties of (Ti,Zr,Hf)CoSb thermoelectric Half-Heusler compounds were investigated by synchrotron radiation based techniques. The short-range order, in particular the environment of the Co atoms, was studied by extended X-Ray absorption fine structure spectroscopy and the long range order by powder X-Ray diffraction. Structural models were obtained for the single phase materials TiCoSb0.85Sn0.15, ZrCoSb0.85Sn0.15, and HfCoSb0.85Sn0.15. These models were transferred for the phase-separated material Ti0.5Hf0.5CoSb0.85Sn0.15. As a result, proving that each Half-Heusler phase was well ordered, apart from the intermixing of Ti and Hf on its designated crystallographic l…

Pd–M/C (M = Pd, Cu, Pt) Electrocatalysts for Oxygen Reduction Reaction in Alkaline Medium: Correlating the Electronic Structure with Activity

The increasing global needs for clean and renewable energy have fostered the design of new and highly efficient materials for fuel cells applications. In this work, Pd-M (M = Pd, Cu, Pt) and Pt nanoparticles were prepared by a green synthesis method. The carbon-supported nanoparticles were evaluated as electrocatalysts for the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) in alkaline medium. A comprehensive electronic and structural characterization of these materials was achieved using X-ray diffraction, high-resolution transmission electron microscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and X-ray absorption spectroscopy. Their electrochemical properties were investigated by cyclic voltammetry, while the…

Structural properties of the quaternary Heusler compound Co2 Cr1−x Fex Al

Abstract The structural and chemical properties of the quaternary Heusler compound Co2 Cr1−x Fex Al were investigated comparing powder and bulk samples. The long range order was determined by means of X-ray diffraction, while the site specific (short range) order was proved by the extended X-ray absorption fine structure method (EXAFS). The chemical composition was analysed by means of X-ray photo emission spectroscopy (XPS) combined with Auger electron spectroscopy (AES) depth profiling. The results from these methods are compared to get a detailed idea about the differences between surface and bulk properties and appearance of disorder in such alloys.

Structural properties of the quaternary Heusler alloy Co2Cr1−xFexAl

The quarternary substitutional series Co2Cr1?xFexAl was investigated by means of surface and bulk sensitive techniques in order to exploit its structural and compositional properties. Both bulk and powder samples of the alloy series were investigated to obtain specific information about this material.The long range order was determined by means of x-ray diffraction and neutron diffraction, while the site specific (short range) order was proved by extended x-ray absorption fine structure spectroscopy. The magnetic structure was investigated by M?ssbauer spectroscopy in transmission and scattering modes in order to compare and separate powder and bulk properties. The chemical composition was …