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Tuning the High‐Temperature Wetting Behavior of Metals toward Ultrafine Nanoparticles
Author(s) -
Zhou Yubing,
Natarajan Bharath,
Fan Yanchen,
Xie Hua,
Yang Chunpeng,
Xu Shaomao,
Yao Yonggang,
Jiang Feng,
Zhang Qianfan,
Gilman Jeffrey W.,
Hu Liangbing
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
angewandte chemie
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 1521-3757
pISSN - 0044-8249
DOI - 10.1002/ange.201712202
Subject(s) - wetting , materials science , nanoparticle , chemical engineering , carbon nanofiber , carbon fibers , dispersion (optics) , adsorption , oxide , substrate (aquarium) , electrocatalyst , particle size , nanotechnology , metal , coating , transition metal , carbon nanotube , catalysis , composite material , metallurgy , chemistry , electrochemistry , organic chemistry , composite number , physics , oceanography , optics , electrode , geology , engineering
The interaction between metal nanoparticles (NPs) and their substrate plays a critical role in determining the particle morphology, distribution, and properties. The pronounced impact of a thin oxide coating on the dispersion of metal NPs on a carbon substrate is presented. Al 2 O 3 ‐supported Pt NPs are compared to the direct synthesis of Pt NPs on bare carbon surfaces. Pt NPs with an average size of about 2 nm and a size distribution ranging between 0.5 nm and 4.0 nm are synthesized on the Al 2 O 3 coated carbon nanofiber, a significant improvement compared to those directly synthesized on a bare carbon surface. First‐principles modeling verifies the stronger adsorption of Pt clusters on Al 2 O 3 than on carbon, which attributes the formation of ultrafine Pt NPs. This strategy paves the way towards the rational design of NPs with enhanced dispersion and controlled particle size, which are promising in energy storage and electrocatalysis.