Tailoring of highly porous SnO2 and SnO2-Pd thin films

Abstract Tin oxide is a material that attracts attention due to variety of technological applications. The main parameters that influence its properties are morphology, crystalline structure and stoichiometry. Researchers try to develop nanostructured thin films with tunable parameters that would conform its technological applications. Herein, we report on the preparation and characterization of highly porous SnO2 and Pd-doped SnO2 thin films. These films were deposited in the form of nanorods with controllable geometry. Such morphology was achieved by utilizing glancing angle deposition (GLAD) with assisted magnetron sputtering. This arrangement allowed preparation of slanted pillars, zig-…

Flash annealing influence on structural and electrical properties of TiO2/TiO/Ti periodic multilayers

Abstract Multilayered structures with a 40 nm period composed of titanium and two different titanium oxides, TiO and TiO 2 , were accurately produced by DC magnetron sputtering using the reactive gas pulsing process. These multilayers were sputtered onto Al 2 O 3 sapphire to avoid substrate compound diffusion during flash annealing (ranging from 350 °C to 550 °C). Structure and composition of these periodic TiO 2 /TiO/Ti stacks were investigated by X-ray diffraction, X-ray photoemission spectroscopy and transmission electronic microscopy techniques. Two crystalline phases α-Ti and fcc-TiO were identified in the metallic-rich sub-layers whereas the oxygen-rich ones were composed of a mixture…

Chemical and structural characterization of periodic metal/oxide nanometric layers using STEM-EELS

Chemical and structural characterization of periodic metal/oxide nanometric layers using STEM-EELS

Structuration of nanometric tungsten/tungsten oxide periodic films combining gas pulsing and glancing angle deposition

Structuration of nanometric tungsten/tungsten oxide periodic films combining gas pulsing and glancing angle deposition

Structure and chemical bonds in reactively sputtered black Ti–C–N–O thin films

The evolution of the nanoscale structure and the chemical bonds formed in Ti–C–N–O films grown by reactive sputtering were studied as a function of the composition of the reactive atmosphere by increasing the partial pressure of an O2+N2 gas mixture from 0 up to 0.4 Pa, while that of acetylene (carbon source) was constant. The amorphisation of the films observed by transmission electron microscopy was confirmed by micro- Raman spectroscopy, but it was not the only effect associated to the increase of the O2+N2 partial pressure. The chemical environment of titanium and carbon, analysed by X-ray photoemission spectroscopy, also changes due to the higher affinity of Ti towards oxygen and nitro…

Modelling nanoparticles formation in the plasma plume induced by nanosecond pulsed lasers

International audience; Nanoparticles formation in a laser-induced plasma plume in the ambient air has been investigated by using numerical simulations and physical models. For high irradiances, or for ultrashort laser pulses, nanoparticles are formed by condensation, as fine powders, in the expanding plasma for very high pairs of temperature and pressure. At lower irradiances, or nanosecond laser pulses, another thermodynamic paths are possible, which cross the liquid-gas transition curve while laser is still heating the target and the induced plasma. In this work, we explore the growth of nanoparticles in the plasma plume induced by nanosecond pulsed lasers as a function of the laser irra…

Platinum-doped CeO2 thin film catalysts prepared by magnetron sputtering.

The interaction of Pt with CeO(2) layers was investigated by using photoelectron spectroscopy. The 30 nm thick Pt doped CeO(2) layers were deposited simultaneously by rf-magnetron sputtering on a Si(001) substrate, multiwall carbon nanotubes (CNTs) supported by a carbon diffusion layer of a polymer membrane fuel cell and on CNTs grown on the silicon wafer by the CVD technique. The synchrotron radiation X-ray photoelectron spectra showed the formation of cerium oxide with completely ionized Pt(2+,4+) species, and with the Pt(2+)/Pt(4+) ratio strongly dependent on the substrate. The TEM and XRD study showed the Pt(2+)/Pt(4+) ratio is dependent on the film structure.

Maximum Noble-Metal Efficiency in Catalytic Materials: Atomically Dispersed Surface Platinum

International audience; Platinum is the most versatile element in catalysis, but it is rare and its high price limits large-scale applications, for example in fuel-cell technology. Still, conventional catalysts use only a small fraction of the Pt content, that is, those atoms located at the catalyst's surface. To maximize the noble-metal efficiency, the precious metal should be atomically dispersed and exclusively located within the outermost surface layer of the material. Such atomically dispersed Pt surface species can indeed be prepared with exceptionally high stability. Using DFT calculations we identify a specific structural element, a ceria ``nanopocket'', which binds Pt2+ so strongly…

Interdependence of structural and electrical properties in tantalum/tantalum oxide multilayers

International audience; Dc reactive sputtering was used to deposit tantalum metal/oxide periodic nanometric multilayers using the innovative technique namely, the reactive gas pulsing process (RGPP). Different pulsing periods were used for each deposition to produce metal-oxide periodic alternations included between 5 and 80 nm. Structure, crystallinity and chemical composition of these films were systematically investigated by Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM) and Energy-dispersive X-ray (EDX) spectroscopy techniques. Moreover, electrical properties were also studied by the Van der Pauw technique.

Strain state analysis of InGaN/GaN - sources of error and optimized imaging conditions.

Transmission electron microscopy investigation of the chemical composition of In x Ga 1-x N/GaN layers by strain state analysis can lead to substantial artefacts. We evaluated simulated images in dependence of specimen thickness, specimen orientation and objective lens defocus. We observed that the measurement is in agreement with the true strain profile for certain conditions only. An analysis of error sources revealed that artefacts are mainly caused by a combination of delocalization and the composition dependence of the phases of the beams contributing to the image formation. The delocalization effect is minimized for interference of the undiffracted beam with one of the 000 ± 2 beams. …

Growth of nano-porous Pt-doped cerium oxide thin films on glassy carbon substrate

Abstract Glassy carbon (GC) substrates were treated by the oxygen plasma over several periods of time. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and atomic force microscopy (AFM) study showed the dramatic influence of oxygen plasma on the morphology of glassy carbon. The treatment leads to the formation of nanostructured surface, which consists of well separated rod-like nanostructures oriented perpendicularly to the substrate surface. The surface roughness was found to increase with increasing treatment time. By using magnetron co-sputtering of platinum and cerium oxide we can prepare oxide layers continuously doped with Pt atoms during the growth. This tec…

Preparation of magnetron sputtered thin cerium oxide films with a large surface on silicon substrates using carbonaceous interlayers.

The study focuses on preparation of thin cerium oxide films with a porous structure prepared by rf magnetron sputtering on a silicon wafer substrate using amorphous carbon (a-C) and nitrogenated amorphous carbon films (CNx) as an interlayer. We show that the structure and morphology of the deposited layers depend on the oxygen concentration in working gas used for cerium oxide deposition. Considerable erosion of the carbonaceous interlayer accompanied by the formation of highly porous carbon/cerium oxide bilayer systems is reported. Etching of the carbon interlayer with oxygen species occurring simultaneously with cerium oxide film growth is considered to be the driving force for this effec…

Synthesis, electron microscopy and X-ray characterization of oxymagnesite, MgO·2MgCO3, formed from amorphous magnesium carbonate

At present, the peculiar compound called oxymagnesite, MgO·2MgCO3, an intermediate formed during thermal decomposition of hydrated magnesium carbonates, has only been described a handful of times without a distinct description of its formation or morphology. In the current work we present the first scanning and transmission electron microscopy images of an oxymagnesite crystal together with its crystallographic data. Oxymagnesite was synthesized in a controlled manner via decomposition of amorphous magnesium carbonates (AMCs) subjected to varying relative humidity. We show that oxymagnesite is formed only when AMC is hydrated above a certain level, which we attribute to structural inequival…

Evidence of hexagonal WO3 structure stabilization on mica substrate

International audience; WO3 nanorods are grown by a simple vapor deposition method on a mica substrate and characterized by Selected Area Electron Diffraction and Energy Dispersive X-rays Spectroscopy. Experimental results show the clear evidence of an unexpected WO3 hexagonal structure as well as an epitaxial growth on the mica substrate. Besides, potassium is evidenced inside the nanorods. It is thus deduced that a metastable WO3 hexagonal phase is stabilized by epitaxy through a tungsten bronze interlayer having same hexagonal structure.

Benzene monitoring by micro-machined sensors with SnO2 layer obtained by using micro-droplet deposition technique

International audience; SnO2 thin layers were deposited by the way of the micro-droplet technique. The sensor substrate consisted of a thin membrane developed on oxidised silicon wafer. The sensing layers were deposited by means of the micro-droplet technique into thin layers of about 100 nm. Such devices were tested for benzene detection. The obtained results showed a very high sensitivity for this chemical compound since 500 ppb were detected. The results presented in this paper were not focused on the reactional mechanism of benzene detection but rather on the development of a cheap and sensitive sensor using sol-gel and micro-droplet processes. Since these layers were elaborated using s…

Back Cover: Maximum Noble-Metal Efficiency in Catalytic Materials: Atomically Dispersed Surface Platinum (Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 39/2014)

An epitaxial hexagonal tungsten bronze as precursor for WO3 nanorods on mica.

International audience; Tungsten oxide nanorods are grown at atmospheric pressure and low temperature (360 1C), by sublimation of WO3 and condensation on mica substrates. The nanorods are characterized by atomic force microscopy, high-resolution electron microscopy, energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy and high energy electron diffraction. The experimental results evidence the formation of a hexagonal tungsten bronze at the nanorod–substrate interface. The epitaxial relationships of the nanorods on mica are determined and the role of epitaxial orientation of the interfacial bronze in the nanorod growth and morphology are discussed.

Ballistic and thermalized regimes to tune structure and conducting properties of W-Mo thin films

Oblique angle co-deposition of nanocolumnar tungsten thin films with two W sources: Effect of pressure and target current

Two series of tungsten thin films are sputtered on silicon and glass substrates by oblique angle co-deposition technique with an original configuration. Two opposite distinct tungsten targets are simultaneously used, both tilted with an oblique angle of 80°. The growth is performed at low (0.33 Pa) and high (1.5 Pa) argon sputtering pressure and the current intensity applied to the targets varies between 50 and 250 mA. The effect of these deposition parameters on the films microstructure and electrical properties is investigated by scanning and transmission electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction and pole figures, and van der Pauw method. Due to self-shadowing effect, all tungsten sputtered …

Elaboration and characterization of barium silicate thin films.

International audience; Room temperature depositions of barium on a thermal silicon oxide layer were performed in ultra high vacuum (UHV). In-situ X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) analyses were carried out as well after exposure to air as after subsequent annealings. These analyses were ex-situ completed by secondary ion mass spectrometry (SIMS) profiles and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) cross-sectional images. The results showed that after air exposure, the barium went carbonated. Annealing at sufficient temperature permitted to decompose the carbonate to benefit of a barium silicate. The silicate layer was formed by interdiffusion of barium with the initial SiO2 layer.

Growth and size distribution of Au nanoparticles in annealed Au/TiO2 thin films

Abstract Nanocomposites consisting of noble metal nanoparticles (NPs) embedded in TiO2 thin films are of great interest for applications in optoelectronics, photocatalysis and solar-cells for which the plasmonic properties of the metal NPs play a major role. This work investigates the first stages of the formation of gold NPs by thermal annealing of Au-doped TiO2 thin films grown by magnetron sputtering. A low concentration of gold in the films is considered (5 at.%) in order to study the first stages of the formation of the NPs. Raman spectroscopy is used to follow the crystallization of TiO2 when increasing the annealing temperature. In addition, low-frequency Raman scattering (LFRS) is u…

TiO2 anatase films obtained by direct liquid injection atomic layer deposition at low temperature

International audience; TiO2 thin films were grown by direct liquid injection atomic layer deposition (DLI-ALD) with infrared rapid thermal heating using titanium tetraisopropoxide and water as precursors. This titanium tetraisopropoxide/water process exhibited a growth rate of 0.018 nm/cycle in a self-limited ALD growth mode at 280 degrees C. Scanning electron microscopy and atomic force microscopy analyses have shown a smooth surface with a low roughness. XPS results demonstrated that the films were pure and close to the TiO2 stoichiometric composition in depth. Raman spectroscopy revealed that the films were crystallized to the anatase structure in the as-deposited state at low temperatu…

High efficiency of Pt2+ - CeO2 novel thin film catalyst as anode for proton exchange membrane fuel cells

Abstract The elevated price of Pt limits the large-scale implementation of commercial proton exchange membrane fuel cells, which effectively convert chemical energy into electricity. In order to increase the cost-efficiency in proton-exchange membrane fuel cells, we have designed a family of novel anode catalysts consisting of thin films of ceria with low Pt loadings sputtered on a nanostructured carbon support. Remarkably, only such small amounts of Pt are necessary for achieving power density values comparable to the reference commercial catalysts, which results in excellent specific activities of our samples. By combining photoelectron spectroscopy and catalytic performance analysis, we …

The interdependence of structural and electrical properties in TiO2/TiO/Ti periodic multilayers

International audience; Multilayered structures with 14-50 nm periods composed of titanium and two different titanium oxides, TiO and TiO2, were accurately produced by DC magnetron sputtering using the reactive gas pulsing process. The structure and composition of these periodic TiO2/TiO/Ti stacks were investigated by X-ray diffraction and transmission electronic microscopy techniques. Two crystalline phases, hexagonal close packed Ti and face centred cubic TiO, were identified in the metallic-rich sub-layers, whereas the oxygen-rich ones comprised a mixture of amorphous TiO2 and rutile phase. DC electrical resistivity rho measured for temperatures ranging from 300 to 500 K exhibited a meta…

Pt–CeO thin film catalysts for PEMFC

Abstract Platinum is the mostly used element in catalysts for fuel cell technology, but its high price limits large-scale applications. Platinum doped cerium oxide represents an alternative solution due to very low loading, typically few micrograms per 1 cm2, at the proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC) anode. High efficiency is achieved by using magnetron sputtering deposition of cerium oxide and Pt of 30 nm thick nanoporous films on large surface carbon nanoparticle substrates. Thin film techniques permits to grow the catalyst film characterized by highly dispersed platinum, mostly in ionic Pt2+ state. Such dispersed Pt species show high activity and stability. These new materials ma…

Structural and electrical properties in tungsten/tungsten oxide multilayers

International audience; Tungsten and tungsten oxide periodic nanometric multilayers have been deposited by DC reactive sputtering using the reactive gas pulsing process. Different pulsing periods have been used for each deposition to produce metal-oxide periodic alternations ranging from 3.3 to 71.5 nm. The morphology, crystallinity and chemical composition of these films have been investigated by transmission electron microscopy and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy techniques. The produced multilayers exhibited an amorphous structure and the composition stability of WO3 sub-layers has been pointed out. Moreover, electrical properties have also been studied by the van der Pauw technique…

Rücktitelbild: Auf dem Weg zu größtmöglicher Effizienz bei der katalytischen Nutzung von Edelmetallen: atomar dispergiertes Oberflächen-Platin (Angew. Chem. 39/2014)

Electrochemically shape-controlled transformation of magnetron sputtered platinum films into platinum nanostructures enclosed by high-index facets

Abstract A new method based on transformation of magnetron sputtered platinum thin films into platinum nanostructures enclosed by high-index facets, using electrochemical potential cycling in a twin working electrode system is reported. The controllable formation of various Pt nanostructures, described in this paper, indicates that this method can be used to control a selective growth of high purity Pt nanostructures with specific shapes (facets or edges). The method opens up new possibilities for electrochemical preparation of nanostructured Pt catalysts at high yield.

Oxide-based nanomaterials for fuel cell catalysis:the interplay between supported single Pt atoms and particles

The concept of single atom catalysis offers maximum noble metal efficiency for the development of low-cost catalytic materials. Among possible applications are catalytic materials for proton exchange membrane fuel cells. In the present review, recent efforts towards the fabrication of single atom catalysts on nanostructured ceria and their reactivity are discussed in the prospect of their employment as anode catalysts. The remarkable performance and the durability of the ceria-based anode catalysts with ultra-low Pt loading result from the interplay between two states associated with supported atomically dispersed Pt and sub-nanometer Pt particles. The occurrence of these two states is a co…

Growth, Structure, and Stability of KxWO3 Nanorods on Mica Substrate

International audience; KxWO3 nanorods, interesting as gas sensors, were elaborated on mica muscovite substrate and characterized by atomic force microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and mainly transmission electron microscopy. A combination of structural analyses allowed determining the morphology of these rods, and selected area electron diffraction experiments pointed out the simultaneous presence of the exotic hexagonal and stable monoclinic phases. Moreover, the presence of potassium inside the nanorods, coming from the mica substrate, was revealed. By combining all the observations, a growth model is proposed, consisting of the stacking of two di…

Structure and properties of GaNxOy films grown by nitridation of GaAs (100) substrates

GaAs (100) substrates have been heat-treated in a metal-organic chemical vapor deposition reactor under flows of NH 3 and an oxygen organo-metallic precursor at temperatures between 650°C and 750°C. Yellowish films formed at the surface of all the samples. Gallium, nitrogen and oxygen were detected by EDX analysis of the films. The oxygen content was estimated in the range of at 5-10 at% depending on the heat-treatment temperature. X-ray diffraction and HRTEM results indicate that the structure of the films corresponds to the hexagonal wurtzite phase of GaN with an expanded unit cell. Raman spectra show hands corresponding to the Raman active GaN modes as well as disorder-activated broad ba…

Growth and composition of nanostructured and nanoporous cerium oxide thin films on a graphite foil.

The morphology and composition of CeOx films prepared by r.f. magnetron sputtering on a graphite foil have been investigated mainly by using microscopy methods. This study presents the formation of nanocrystalline layers with porous structure due to the modification of a carbon support and the formation of cerium carbide crystallites as a result of the deposition process. Chemical analyses of the layers with different thicknesses performed by energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, electron energy loss spectroscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy have pointed to the reduction of the cerium oxide layers. In the deposited layers, cerium was present in mixed Ce(3+) and Ce(4+) valence. Ce(3+…

Deposition of Pt and Sn doped CeOx layers on silicon substrate

Abstract Radio Frequency Magnetron Sputtering is used to elaborate CeO x layers doped with platinum and/or tin on a SiO 2 /Si substrate. Morphology, chemical composition and crystallographic structures were investigated by Transmission Electron Microscopy. The presence of nanoparticles of mainly ceria and metallic platinum is exhibited.

Photoemission study of the reactivity of barium towards SiOx thermal films

Abstract Barium was deposited at room temperature on a thermal silicon oxide layer and the interfacial reaction was monitored by synchrotron induced photoemission (both core level and valence band). The first step of the growth consists of an interfacial reaction which leads to the formation of an interfacial silicate layer. The next step consists in formation of barium oxide while metallic barium occurs subsequently. The deposit can be also homogenized by annealing above 575 K. This results in the formation of several layers of silicate by consumption of silicon oxide. In the case of fractional coverage, subsequent annealing at 975 K induces the decomposition of barium silicate. However, s…

In-situ small-angle x-ray scattering study of nanoparticles in the plasma plume induced by pulsed laser irradiation of metallic targets

Import JabRef; International audience; Small angle x-ray scattering was used to probe in-situ the formation of nanoparticles in the plasma plume generated by pulsed laser irradiation of a titanium metal surface under atmospheric conditions. The size and morphology of the nanoparticles were characterized as function of laser irradiance. Two families of nanoparticles were identified with sizes on the order of 10 and 70 nm, respectively. These results were confirmed by ex-situ transmission electron microscopy experiments.

Optical properties of nanocrystalline-coatedY2O3:Er3+, Yb3+ obtained by mechano-chemical and combustion synthesis.

International audience; Y2O3:Er3+, Yb3+ nanocrystals have been obtained by ball milling and using a combustion synthesis procedure. In both cases the nanocrystals have been successfully coated with SiO2 following the Stöber method. The average size of the as-synthesized nanoparticles has been estimated from X-ray diffraction patterns and transmission electron microscopy images. The dependence of the optical properties of these samples on synthesis procedure or dopant concentration has been investigated. Emission, excitation and lifetime measurements have been carried out. Upconversion luminescence has been detected in all samples and an enhancement of the red to green emission ratio has bee…

WOx phase growth on SiO2/Si by decomposition of tungsten hexacarbonyl:Influence of potassium on supported tungsten oxide phases

International audience; Synchrotron based photoemission spectroscopy was used to study the adsorption of tungsten hexacarbonyl on SiO2 surfaces modified by potassium. Results were compared with the ones obtained when no potassium was present. Experiments using W4f and Si2p intensities variations show that, at 140 K, the tungsten hexacarbonyl growth proceeds via a simultaneous multilayer mode for the two kinds of surfaces but with differences in compositions of growing layers. Indeed, it is evidenced that, even at cryogenic temperatures, the presence of potassium induces decomposition of a significant part of tungsten hexacarbonyl molecules through a strong interaction between tungsten and p…

Tungsten oxide thin films sputter deposited by the reactive gas pulsing process for the dodecane detection

International audience; The DC reactive magnetron sputtering of a metallic tungsten target was performed in an argon + oxygen atmosphere for depositing tungsten oxide thin films. In order to control the oxygen concentration in the films, the reactive gas pulsing process, namely RGPP, was implemented. Rectangular pulses were used with a constant pulsing period T = 16 s whereas the duty cycle α (time of oxygen injection to pulsing period T ratio) was systematically changed from 0 to 100% of T. This pulsing injection of the reactive gas allowed a gradual evolution of the films composition from pure metallic to over-stoichiometric WO3+ɛ’ compounds. These WOx films were sputter deposited on comm…

Proton exchange membrane fuel cell made of magnetron sputtered Pt–CeO and Pt–Co thin film catalysts

Abstract Preparation of catalysts for proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs) is of growing interest during last years. The magnetron sputtering technique is a promising method of catalyst preparation because it permits to synthesize catalysts in a fast and relatively less expensive way, however control of specific surface and durability of such catalysts still remains the main concern. We tested a single cell PEMFC catalyzed by using exclusively thin film approach by combining state-of-the art Pt-doped cerium oxide anode and a new Pt–Co alloy cathode. We have shown that beside very high mass activity of the catalysts relative to the membrane electrode assembly the catalyst nanoporous …

Structural analysis of W3O/WO3 and TiO/TiO2 periodic multilayer thin films sputter deposited by the reactive gas pulsing process

International audience; DC reactive sputtering was used to deposit titanium and tungsten-based metal/oxide periodic nanometric multilayers using pure metallic targets and Ar + O-2 gas mixture as reactive atmosphere. The innovative technique namely, the reactive gas pulsing process allows switching between the metal and oxide to prepare a periodic multilayered structure with various metalloid concentrations and nanometric dimensions. The same pulsing period was used for each deposition to produce metal-oxide periodic alternations close to 10 nm. Structure, crystallinity and chemical composition of these films were systematically investigated by Raman spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction and Energ…

Structural and Chemical Characterization of Cerium Oxide Thin Layers Grown on Silicon Substrate

In this study, we report transmission electron microscopy and electron energy loss spectroscopy study of cerium oxide thin layers deposited on silicon substrate. Transmission electron microscopy experiments have revealed the flat morphology of the deposited layers. In addition, studies of high resolution images have indicated the presence of mainly ceria crystallized nanoparticles. Energy electron loss spectroscopy measurements were also performed in scanning mode to study the evolution of the cerium valence. In addition to Ce4+ inside the layer, the presence of amorphous cerium silicate with valence +3 is pointed out at the vicinity of the substrate.

Influence of flash annealing on structure and electrical properties of multilayered TiO2/TiO/Ti thin films

Influence of flash annealing on structure and electrical properties of multilayered TiO2/TiO/Ti thin films

Auf dem Weg zu größtmöglicher Effizienz bei der katalytischen Nutzung von Edelmetallen: atomar dispergiertes Oberflächen-Platin

Platin ist das am vielseitigsten eingesetzte Element in der Katalyse. Allerdings begrenzt der hohe Preis des Edelmetalls die Verwendung in vielen Bereichen, z. B. in Katalysatormaterialien fur Brennstoffzellen. Trotzdem nutzen konventionelle Katalysatoren oftmals nur einen Bruchteil ihres Pt-Gehaltes, namlich diejenigen Atome, die sich auf der Oberflache des Katalysators befinden. Eine effizientere Edelmetallnutzung setzt somit eine hohere, bevorzugt atomare Dispersion der Pt-Atome auf der Oberflache voraus. Tatsachlich ist es moglich, solche atomar dispergierten Pt-Spezies mit sehr hoher Stabilitat auf einer Katalysatoroberflache herzustellen. Mithilfe von DFT-Rechnungen identifizieren wir…

Thermal stability of Au–TiO2 nanocomposite films prepared by direct liquid injection CVD

Abstract Nanocomposite films composed of gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) embedded in a TiO 2 matrix have been prepared by direct liquid injection chemical vapor deposition process, using preformed nanoparticles and titanium isopropoxide as precursors. The spherical AuNPs about 4.1 nm in diameter were synthesized by using gold (III) chloride trihydrate and stabilized by thiol ligands. The depositions were carried out by performing at first oxide deposition, then gold nanoparticle one and capping with oxide. The morphology, structure; the chemical state and optical properties of nanocomposite films were characterized by scanning electron microscopy, Raman, X-ray photoelectron and UV–Vis absorption…