Probing Nanoparticle Geometry down to Subnanometer Size: The Benefits of Vibrational Spectroscopy

Understanding the role of nanoparticle size and shape in the binding of molecules is very relevant for heterogeneous catalysis and molecular electronics. The geometry of Pd nanoparticles (NPs) has been studied from very small clusters containing 4 atoms up to large (>500 atoms), well-faceted NPs. Their geometry was retrieved by combining scanning tunneling microscopy and vibrational sum frequency generation (SFG) spectroscopy of adsorbed CO. SFG has been revealed to be highly sensitive to the geometry of NPs smaller than 100 atoms by identifying the nature of CO adsorption sites. NP growth could be followed layer by layer in the critical size range corresponding to the transition from a nonmetallic to a metallic state and to oscillations of CO adsorption energy. NP height remained at two Pd planes up to 30 atoms, and adsorption energy minima correspond to the completion of successive layers.