A new promising Pt(Mo2C) catalyst for hydrogen evolution reaction prepared by galvanic displacement reaction

Journal of Solid State Electrochemistry - A new method for the synthesis of Pt(Mo2C) catalysts using the redox reaction between Mo2C and solution containing potassium tetracholoplatinate (II) is...     

Novel silver nanostructures from silver mirror reaction on reactive substrates

Novel silver clusters have been prepared by simply carrying out the silver mirror reaction on certain reactive substrates. Leaflike fractal silver microstructures and perpendicularly aligned silver nanosheets were produced on a commercially available copper foil and sandpaper-rubbed copper foil, respectively. The surface features of copper foils and the chemical state of Cu atoms play important roles in regulating the morphological structures of the resulting silver clusters. Silver nanoclusters with various morphologies ranging from the leaflike to flowerlike hierarchical structures can be produced from the silver mirror reaction on commercially available copper foils after being treated with a dilute aqueous HCl solution under different conditions. The aqueous solution of silver nanosheets shows an optical absorption spectrum with a broad light-scattering peak at about 350 nm, compared to a corresponding surface plasmon absorption band around 430 nm for silver nanoparticles from the conventional silver mirror reaction on glass.     

Electrodeposition of metal nanostructures by galvanic displacement powered with insoluble crystals of a ferrocene derivative.

The deposition of metal nanostructures (wires and particles) on a graphite surface from an aqueous electrolyte solution was induced by galvanic displacement, via the oxidation of insoluble crystals of a ferrocene derivative (either n-butyl ferrocene or decamethyl ferrocene) present on the same substrate. Micron-to-millimetre-scale crystallites of decamethyl ferrocene were deposited on the graphite surface by evaporation from a solution of a nonpolar solvent (1,2-dichloroethane). Immersion of this modified surface into a dilute solution of a metal ion (e.g., CuII, AgI, PdII, PtII and others) caused the deposition of metal nanoparticles at step edges present on the graphite surface. The reducing equivalents required for the metal deposition process are provided by oxidation of the ferrocene derivative on the surface, as directly evidenced by elemental analysis and chronoamperometric experimental data presented here.     

Effect of Pb2+ ions in solution on the galvanic displacement of lead by platinum

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Morphology-dependent structures and catalytic performances of Au nanostructures on Cu_2O nanocrystals synthesized by galvanic replacement reaction

Au nanostructures were prepared on uniform Cu_2O octahedra and rhombic dodecahedra via the galvanic replacement reaction between HAu Cl4 and Cu2O. The compositions and structures were studied by Scanning Electron Microscope(SEM), Transmission Electron Microscope(TEM), High-Resolution Transmission Electron Microscope(HRTEM), X-Ray Diffraction(XRD), X-Ray Absorption Spectroscopy(XAS), X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy(XPS) and in-situ DRIFTS spectroscopy of CO adsorption. Different from the formation of Au–Cu alloys on Cu_2O cubes by the galvanic replacement reaction(Chem Nano Mat 2(2016)861-865), metallic Au particles and positively-charged Au clusters form on Cu_2O octahedra and rhombic dodecahedra at very small Au loadings and only metallic Au particles form at large Au loadings. Metallic Au particles on Cu_2O octahedra and rhombic dodecahedra are more active in catalyzing the liquid phase aerobic oxidation reaction of benzyl alcohol than positively-charged Au clusters. These results demonstrate an obvious morphology effect of Cu_2O nanocrystals on the liquid–solid interfacial reactions and prove oxide morphology as an effective strategy to tune the surface reactivity and catalytic performance.     

Formation of Pd/Au nanostructures from Pd nanowires via galvanic replacement reaction

Bimetallic nanostructures with non-random metal atoms distribution are very important for various applications. To synthesize such structures via benign wet chemistry approach remains challenging. This paper reports a synthesis of a Au/Pd alloy nanostructure through the galvanic replacement reaction between Pd ultrathin nanowires (2.4 +/- 0.2 nm in width, over 30 nm in length) and AuCl3 in toluene. Both morphological and structural changes were monitored during the reaction up to 10 h. Continuous changes of chemical composition and crystalline structure from Pd nanowires to Pd68Au32 and Pd45Au55 alloys, and to Au nanoparticles were observed. More interestingly, by using combined techniques such as high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), energy dispersive X-ray spectrometry (EDS), UV-vis absorption, and extended X-ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS) spectroscopy, we found the formation of Pd68Au32 non-random alloy with Au-rich core and Pd-rich shell, and random Pd45Au55 alloy with uniformly mixed Pd and Au atom inside the nanoparticles, respectively. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations indicated that alkylamine will strongly stabilize Pd to the surface, resulting in diffusion of Au atoms into the core region to form a non-random alloy. We believe such benign synthetic techniques can also enable the large scale preparation of various types of non-random alloys for several technically important catalysis applications.     

Controllable growth of silver nanostructures by a simple replacement reaction and their SERS studies

Hierarchical silver nanostructures, consisting of dendritic (symmetric branched) and fractal patterns (randomly ramified), were synthesized very easily by dropping a droplet of AgNO₃-HF solution on silicon wafers. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and open circuit potential-time (Ocp-t) measurement demonstrated that the two nanostructures converted with the reaction composition. The structural evolution was tentatively explained with the theory that oriented growth was determined by the anisotropy of the solid–liquid interfacial energy and the oriented attachment-based aggregation mechanism. Results on surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) signals of the silver films with hierarchical nanostructures demonstrate that SERS is sensitive to silver nanostructures.     

Mechanistic study on the replacement reaction between silver nanostructures and chloroauric acid in aqueous medium

The replacement reaction between silver nanostructures and an aqueous HAuCl(4) solution has recently been demonstrated as a versatile method for generating metal nanostructures with hollow interiors. Here we describe the results of a systematic study detailing the morphological, structural, compositional, and spectral changes involved in such a heterogeneous reaction on the nanoscale. Two distinctive steps have been resolved through a combination of microscopic and spectroscopic methods. In the first step, silver nanostructure (i.e., the template) is dissolved to generate gold atoms that are deposited epitaxially on the surface of each template. Silver atoms also diffuse into the gold shell (or sheath) to form a seamless, hollow nanostructure with its wall made of Au-Ag alloys. The second step involves dealloying, a process that selectively removes silver atoms from the alloyed wall, induces morphological reconstruction, and finally leads to the formation of pinholes in the walls. Reaction temperature was found to play an important role in the replacement reaction because the solubility constant of AgCl and the diffusion coefficients of Ag and Au atoms were both strongly dependent on this parameter. This work has enabled us to prepare metal nanostructures with controllable geometric shapes and structures, and thus optical properties (for example, the surface plasmon resonance peaks could be readily shifted from 500 to 1200 nm by controlling the ratio between Ag and HAuCl(4)).     

Growth of ZnO nanostructures with different morphologies by using hydrothermal technique

ZnO nanostructures, including nanotowers, nanovolcanoes, nanorods, nanotubes, and nanoflowers, have been grown by using the hydrothermal technique. Most of the ZnO nanostructures show the perfect hexagonal cross section and well-faceted top and side surfaces. The basic chemistry and growth mechanism are discussed. By increasing the reaction time, the volcano-like and tube-like ZnO structures were formed due to the Ostwald ripening process and the selective adsorption of the complexes. By using the seed layer, the dense-arrayed, regular oriented ZnO nanorods were obtained due to the decreased nucleation barrier and the abundant interfaces as well as the increasing surface roughness.     

Effect of the displacement reaction on the composition of the magnetic layer in electrodeposited layered nanostructures Co-Cu/Cu and Ni-Cu/Cu

Methods of stripping voltammetry, quartz microgravimetry, and x-ray-fluorescence analysis are employed to explore the copper displacement process on thin electrodeposited layers of pure cobalt and nickel and on deposits of these metals with inclusions of copper. The displacement reaction proceeds at a considerable rate on cobalt in the sulfate and sulfosalicylate solutions and virtually does not proceed on nickel in both the sulfate or sulfate-chloride solutions. An estimate of the rate of the copper displacement reaction following a change in the concentration of copper ions in the solution and in the pH of the sulfosalicylate solution is given. A decrease in the contact exchange rate is facilitated by a decrease in the concentration of copper ions in solution and their participation in the formation of complexes.     

Formation and electrocatalytic properties of Pd deposits on Mo obtained by galvanic displacement

A Pd-Mo electrocatalytic system was obtained by forming palladium particles on the Mo surface that contacted a PdCl₂ solution under open-circuit conditions. The state of palladium on the electrode surface depended on the contact displacement time. Palladium particles 5–10 nm in size formed on the surface of the Pd(Mo) electrode after palladium deposition for 1 min. The specific rates of formic acid oxidation on the Pd(Mo) electrode were smaller than those on the Pd/Pt electrode. On the Pd(Mo) electrode, anode currents of methanol oxidation were recorded at a potential of 0.4 V. The difference in the effects of the Mo substrate on the activity of Pd particles in the electrooxidations of HCOOH and CH₃OH was explained by the difference in the mechanisms of these reactions.     

Synthesis of silver dendritic nanostructures protected by tetrathiafulvalene

Silver dendritic nanostructures protected by tetrathiafulvalene (TTF) were synthesized via reduction of silver ions with TTF in acetonitrile.     

Effect of initial precursor concentration on TiO2 thin film nanostructures prepared by PCVD system

TiO₂ thin film was prepared on Si substrate by plasma chemical vapor deposition (PCVD) system and the morphologies of TiO₂ thin film were controlled by adjusting the initial precursor concentration. As the initial titanium tetra-isopropoxide (TTIP) concentration increases in PCVD reactor, the shapes of TiO₂ particles generated in PCVD reactor change from the spherical small-sized particles around 20 nm and spherical large-sized particles around 60 nm to aggregate particles around 100 nm. The TiO₂ particles with different shapes deposit on the substrate and become the main building blocks of resulting TiO₂ thin film. We observed the TiO₂ thin film with smooth morphology at low initial TTIP concentration, granular morphology at medium initial TTIP concentration, and columnar morphology at high initial TTIP concentration. It is proposed that we can prepare the TiO₂ thin film with controlled morphologies in one-step process just by adjusting the initial precursor concentration in PCVD.     

Atom probe tomography characterization of thin copper layers on aluminum deposited by galvanic displacement

″Ultrathin″ metallization layers on the order of nanometers in thickness are increasingly used in semiconductor interconnects and other nanostructures. Aqueous deposition methods are attractive methods to produce such layers due to their low cost, but formation of ultrathin layers has proven challenging, particularly on oxide-coated substrates. This work focused on the formation of thin copper layers on aluminum, by galvanic displacement from alkaline aqueous solutions. Analysis by atom probe tomography (APT) showed that continuous copper films of approximately 1 nm thickness were formed, apparently the first demonstration of deposition of ultrathin metal layers on oxidized substrates from aqueous solutions. The APT reconstructions indicate that deposited copper replaced a portion of the surface oxide film on aluminum. The results are consistent with mechanisms in which surface hydride species on aluminum mediate deposition, either by directly reducing cupric ions or by inducing electronic conduction in the oxide, thus enabling cupric ion reduction by Al metal.     

Electroless deposition of silver nanofractals on copper wire by galvanic displacement as a simple technique for preparation of porous solid‐phase microextraction fibers

A novel and porous solid‐phase microextraction fiber was prepared by quick and simple galvanic displacement reaction and applied to the determination of some polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in sunflower oil. The parameters affecting the porosity and thickness of the fiber, and parameters affecting the extraction efficiency, including the extraction time, temperature, and ionic strength, were investigated and optimized. The morphology of prepared fiber was characterized by optical and scanning electron microscopy and thermal and chemical stabilities of the fiber were studied. Under the optimum conditions, the limits of detection ranged between 0.1 ng/mL for pyrene to 1.2 ng/mL for anthracene, and LOQ ranged between 0.3 ng/mL for pyrene to 3.6 ng/mL for anthracene. The relative standard deviations, including repeatability (within fibers) and reproducibility (between fibers), varied between 3.2–8.9 and 5.6–9.8%, respectively.     

Generation of carbon nanostructures with diverse morphologies by the catalytic aerosol-assisted vapor-phase synthesis method

The Fe catalyst-supported aerosol-assisted synthesis method was used to prepare carbon products of diverse morphologies from toluene. Aerosol mist generation was accomplished with an ultrasonic device. An open-ended quartz boat for powder collection was placed in the maximum temperature zone of the tube reactor (850 °C or 1000 °C). The morphology of the products was studied by SEM and TEM microscopy. Structural characterization was provided by powder XRD, whereas Raman spectroscopy was used to determine the structural quality/homogeneity of the products. The hydrogen gas sorption capacity of the product prepared at 850 °C was relatively high despite its rather moderate BET specific surface area.     

Conversion of porous PbO2 layers through galvanic displacement reaction with Mn2 + ions

The galvanic exchange between Mn^2 + ions and electrodeposited porous PbO₂ was studied to produce a porous oxide whose lower conductivity prevented its direct oxygen bubble-templated anodic deposition. Immersion of PbO₂ layers in acid acetate solutions of Mn^2 + led to the formation of amorphous MnO_x shell onto PbO₂. Due to its amorphous nature, MnO_x could not be proved to be MnO₂ by XRD. However, MnO_x was cathodically stripped at the same potential as MnO₂. The deposition of the MnO_x shell onto PbO₂ enhanced the capacity of the porous electrodes.     

Characterization of aminophenol isomer adsorption on silver nanostructures

Surface-enhanced infrared absorption (SEIRA), temperature-programmed desorption, and density functional theory calculations were used to explore the adsorption of aminophenol isomers on vacuum deposited silver films and silver powder. Salts of the aminophenolate ions were synthesized to aid in vibrational spectral interpretation. No evidence for dissociation of any of the aminophenols into aminophenolate ions in the monolayer or multilayer was found when adsorbed on silver nanostructures (SNS). SEIRA demonstrated additional hydrogen-bonding interactions in a multilayer of 2-aminophenol and 3-aminophenol adsorbed on SNS beyond what is present in the aminophenol powders. Surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) experiments also showed that a 2-aminophenol monolayer adsorbed on SNS is photolytically oxidized to either 3-aminophenoxazone or 2,2′-dihydroxyazobenzene, while neither 3-aminophenol nor 4-aminophenol showed any SERS activity. This work is expected to have a significant impact in a range of environmental, biochemical, and industrial applications where phenol chemistry is important.     

Synthesis of self-standing Pd nanowires via galvanic displacement deposition

This work shows that it is possible to obtain self-standing Pd nanowires into anodic alumina membranes by a simple metal displacement deposition. By using a proper arrangement, specifically designed in order to optimize the process, polycrystalline Pd nanowires were deposited from a solution containing Pd(NH₃)₄(NO₃)₂ as precursor. Morphological analysis showed the formation of perfectly aligned nanowires with a uniform diameter throughout the entire length. This last parameter was controlled by both the deposition time and the ratio between the anodic area (active metal) and the cathodic area (pore bottom).