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Reconstruction of Supported Metal Nanoparticles in Reaction Conditions
Author(s) -
Duan Manyi,
Yu Jian,
Meng Jun,
Zhu Beien,
Wang Yong,
Gao Yi
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
angewandte chemie
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 1521-3757
pISSN - 0044-8249
DOI - 10.1002/ange.201800925
Subject(s) - nanomaterial based catalyst , nanoparticle , catalysis , materials science , in situ , nanotechnology , interface (matter) , metal , rational design , heterogeneous catalysis , chemical physics , chemical engineering , chemistry , contact angle , biochemistry , organic chemistry , sessile drop technique , engineering , metallurgy , composite material
Metal nanoparticles (NPs) dispersed on a high‐surface‐area support are normally used as heterogeneous catalysts. Recent in situ experiments have shown that structure reconstruction of the NP occurs in real catalysis. However, the role played by supports in these processes is still unclear. Supports can be very important in real catalysis because of the new active sites at the perimeter interface between nanoparticles and supports. Herein, using a developed multiscale model coupled with in situ spherical aberration‐corrected (Cs‐corrected) TEM experiments, we show that the interaction between the support and the gas environment greatly changes the contact surface area between the metal and support, which further leads to the critical change in the perimeter interface. The dynamic changes of the interface in reactive environments can thus be predicted and be included in the rational design of supported metal nanocatalysts. In particular, our multiscale model shows quantitative consistency with experimental observations. This work offers possibilities for obtaining atomic‐scale structures and insights beyond the experimental limits.