Features and mechanisms of coalescence of nanodroplets and sintering of metal nanoparticles: molecular dynamics simulation

Russian Chemical Bulletin - Coalescence of metal nanodroplets and sintering of solid Au, Pd, and Pt nanoparticles were simulated using isothermal molecular dynamics and the embedded-atom method. It...     

Surface chemistry of quantum-sized metal nanoparticles under light illumination

Size reduction of metal nanoparticles increases the exposure of metal surfaces significantly, favoring heterogeneous chemistry at the surface of the nanoparticles. The optical properties of metal nanoparticles, such as light absorption, also exhibit a strong dependence on their size. It is expected that there will be strong coupling of light absorption and surface chemistry when the metal nanoparticles are small enough. For instance, metal nanoparticles with sizes in the range of 2–10 nm exhibit both surface plasmon resonances, which can efficiently produce high-energy hot electrons near the surface of the nanoparticles under light illumination, and the Coulomb blockade effect, which favors electron transfer from the metal nanoparticles to the surface adsorbates. The synergy of efficient hot electron generation and electron transfer on the surface of small metal nanoparticles leads to double-faced effects: (i) surface (adsorption) chemistry influences optical absorption in the metal nanoparticles, and (ii) optical absorption in the metal nanoparticles promotes (or inhibits) surface adsorption and heterogeneous chemistry. This review article focuses on the discussion of typical quantum phenomena in metal nanoparticles of 2–10 nm in size, which are referred to as “quantum-sized metal nanoparticles”. Both theoretical and experimental examples and results are summarized to highlight the strong correlations between the optical absorption and surface chemistry for quantum-sized metal nanoparticles of various compositions. A comprehensive understanding of these correlations may shed light on achieving high-efficiency photocatalysis and photonics.

Size reduction of metal nanoparticles increases the exposure of metal surfaces significantly, favoring heterogeneous photochemistry at the surface of the nanoparticles.     

Surface diffusion of nickel in metal oxide superconductors and external effects

The effects of crystallite size, oxygen disordering, and adsorption of water vapors on Ni diffusion in YBa₂Cu₃O_7–x were investigated. The transformation of single to double component diffusion was found. The surface character of both components was proved.     

Spontaneous coalescence in ultrafine metal particle aggregates

In the preparation of ultrafine metal particles (Cu, Ti, Ni or Al) by opposed-targets dc sputtering, a substrate cooled by liquid helium flow was used, on which the metal clusters and argon atoms were condensed simultaneously, forming a solid layer of the mixture. By raising the temperature of the substrate and the argon pressure in the chamber, the solid argon melts and evaporates, remaining the metal-particle aggregates. After complete evaporation of the argon, a phenomenon was observed in which the metal-particle aggregates shrank and suddenly changed their colour from black to bulk-metal colour, followed by an explosion-like noise. We offer an explanation for this phenomenon by the mechanism of spontaneous coalescence due to the large surface energy of the ultrafine particles. From our observation and analysis, we conclude that a certain particle size exists, below which the spontaneous coalescence may occur in a very fast way, leading to melting of the particles. The fast process of coalescence, melting and cooling introduces large internal stress which splits the sintered particle, giving the explosion-like noise. This phenomenon may imply a size limitation in forming nanocrystalline solid materials of pure metals.     

Surface diffusion of metal atoms on polymer substrates during physical vapour deposition

 The surface diffusion of physical-vapour-deposited metal atoms on thermoplastic polymer substrates was investigated. In accordance with the hypothesis of the “classical” atomistic diffusion model, diffusion coefficients are derived from a Monte Carlo simulation. Because the “classical” atomistic diffusion model neglects the desorption of the metal atoms, the absolute diffusion data obtained in our investigations should only be considered as rough estimates. It is more the intention of our work to present relative values in order to correlate the metal surface diffusion on polymer substrates with their physical states (morphologies and surface dynamics). As expected, the diffusivity of metal atoms is strongly influenced by the chemical affinity (“reactivity”) between the metal atoms and the polymer substrate. Furthermore, the diffusivity strongly depends on the physical state of the polymer substrate. On polymer surfaces above the glass-transition temperature the surface diffusivity of metal atoms is 1 order of magnitude higher than the diffusivity below the glass-transition temperature. Received: 9 April 1999/Accepted in revised form: 21 October 1999     

Surface modification of magnetic metal nanoparticles and its influence on the performance of polymer composites

To control the interfacial interaction in magnetic metal nanoparticles‐filled polymer composites, surfaces of iron, cobalt, and nickel nanoparticles were grafted by irradiation‐induced polymerization. On the basis of the study of dynamical mechanical behavior, thermal stability, and magnetic performance of the composites prepared by either solution mixing or in situ polymerization, the structure–property relationships of the composites are a function of interfacial interaction and the dispersion state of the nanoparticles. In addition, grafting of polymers onto the surface of the metal nanoparticles changed the surface magnetic state, leading to the possibility of purposely tailoring the magnetic behavior of the composites. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 41: 1070–1084, 2003     

Surface chemistry: a non-negligible parameter in determining optical properties of small colloidal metal nanoparticles

Surface chemistry can become pronounced in determining the optical properties of colloidal metal nanoparticles as the nanoparticles become so small (diameters <20 nm) that the surface atoms, which can undergo chemical interactions with the environment, represent a significant fraction of the total number of atoms although this effect is often ignored. For instance, formation of chemical bonds between surface atoms of small metal nanoparticles and capping molecules that help stabilize the nanoparticles can reduce the density of conduction band electrons in the surface layer of metal atoms. This reduced electron density consequently influences the frequency-dependent dielectric constant of the metal atoms in the surface layer and, for sufficiently high surface to volume ratios, the overall surface plasmon resonance (SPR) absorption spectrum. The important role of surface chemistry is highlighted here by carefully analyzing the classical Mie theory and a multi-layer model is presented to produce more accurate predictions by considering the chemically reduced density of conduction band electrons in the outer shell of metal atoms in nanoparticles. Calculated absorption spectra of small Ag nanoparticles quantitatively agree with the experimental results for our monodispersed Ag nanoparticles synthesized via a well-defined chemical reduction process, revealing an exceptional size-dependence of absorption peak positions: the peaks first blue-shift followed by a turnover and a dramatic red-shift as the particle size decreases. A comprehensive understanding of the relationship between surface chemistry and optical properties is beneficial to exploit new applications of small colloidal metal nanoparticles, such as colorimetric sensing, electrochromic devices, and surface enhanced spectroscopies.     

Acetate stabilization of metal nanoparticles and its role in the preparation of metal nanoparticles in ethylene glycol

Acetate-stabilized ruthenium nanoparticles were prepared by the NaBH4 reduction of the metal precursor salt at room temperature. Nanoparticles with a mean diameter of 2.20 nm and a standard deviation of 1.03 nm could be obtained under experimental conditions. The Ru nanoparticles so obtained could be easily extracted to a toluene solution of alkylamine, giving rise to alkylamine-stabilized Ru nanoparticles with a mean diameter of 2.96 nm and a standard deviation of 0.92 nm. The new found role of acetate stabilization was used to formulate a mechanism for the formation of metal (Pt, Ru) nanoparticles in ethylene glycol. In this mechanism metal nanoparticles are stabilized in ethylene glycol by adsorbed acetate ions, which are produced as a product of the OH- catalyzed reaction between the metal precursor salt and ethylene glycol.     

Surface modified ormosil nanoparticles

Organically modified silanes (ORMOSIL) such as vinyl triethoxysilane readily aggregate in the aqueous cores of reverse micelles where the triethoxysilane moieties are hydrolyzed to form a hydrated silica network and the vinyl groups protruded out from the surface of the nanoparticles toward the hydrophobic side of the micellar interface. These particles are spherical and the size distribution of the particles is relatively narrow, with an average diameter of 87 nm. Surface vinyl silica nanoparticles so formed have been oxidized to surface carboxylic silica nanoparticles, followed by chemical conjugation with polyethyleneglycol amine (PEG amine) through the ethyl-3-(3-dimethylaminopropyl) (EDCI) carbodiimide reaction. The characteristic surface groups have been identified by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, while the size and the morphology of the particles have been studied by dynamic light scattering and transmission electron microscopy. It has been found that about 80-85% of the carboxylic groups are PEGylated during the EDCI reaction.     

Biomolecule-coated metal nanoparticles on titanium

Immobilizations of nanoparticles and biomolecules on biocompatible substrates such as titanium are two promising approaches to bringing new functionalities to Ti-based biomaterials. Herein, we used a variety of X-ray spectroscopic techniques to study and better understand metal-thiolate interactions in biofunctionalized metal nanoparticle systems supported on Ti substrates. Using a facile one-step procedure, a series of Au nanoparticle samples with varied biomolecule coatings ((2-mercatopropionyl)glycine (MPG) and bovine serum albumin (BSA)) and biomolecule concentrations are prepared. Ag and Pd systems are also studied to observe change with varying metal composition. The structure and properties of these biomolecule-coated nanoparticles are investigated with scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and element-specific X-ray techniques, including extended X-ray absorption fine structure (Au L(3)-edge), X-ray absorption near-edge structure (Au L(3), Ag L(3), Pd L(3), and S K-edge), and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (Au 4f, Ag 3d, Pd 3d, and S 2p core level). It was found that, by comparison of SEM and X-ray spectroscopy results, the coating of metal nanoparticles with varying model biomolecule systems can have a significant effect on both surface coverage and organization. This work offers a facile chemical method for bio- and nanofunctionalization of Ti substrates as well as provides a physical picture of the structure and bonding of biocoated metal nanoparticles, which may lead to useful applications in orthopedics and biomedicine.     

钯铂核壳纳米催化剂颗粒中的原子扩散

铂原子单层的核壳结构催化剂因其高效的铂原子利用率和优异铂质量活性而广泛应用于燃料电池领域.在该系列材料中,钯@铂核壳催化剂具有更优于纯铂的氧还原(ORR)催化活性,因而拥有较好的应用前景.但由于钯原子在热力学上更倾向于富集到材料表面,钯@铂核壳催化剂的催化稳定性及原子扩散的途径需要更深入的研究.本文探究了热处理条件对钯@铂核壳结构稳定性的破坏,并确定了原子扩散对催化活性的影响.原位扫描透射电子显微镜-电子能量损失谱(STEM-EELS)证明了在250 oC的氩气氛围中,钯@铂纳米颗粒中原本清晰可见的1–2原子铂壳层已经消失,并伴随着颗粒表面钯铂合金化的形成.因钯金属可以吸收氢气而导致晶格间距的展宽,钯@铂核壳结构的破坏也可以通过氢气氛围中的原位X射线衍射谱中(111)衍射峰的展宽和位移进行判断.对钯@铂核壳纳米催化剂进行一系列温度的热处理结果显示,核壳结构的破坏在200 oC左右开始,并于200–300 oC之间急剧发生.一氧化碳电化学氧化脱附实验表明,热处理之后的核壳催化剂表面的一氧化碳氧化峰位置发生了明显的正移,也证明了热处理之后催化剂表面电子结构的变化.核壳结构改变对催化活性的影响也通过旋转圆盘电极进行了测量.相比于未经处理的样品, 200 oC处理之后的钯@铂核壳催化剂在0.9 V电位处的质量活性损失了约37%.进一步提高热处理温度至300 oC之后,钯@铂核壳催化剂的质量活性只有初始状态的44%.本文揭示核壳结构中因热处理而导致的原子扩散现象,并为燃料电池中核壳催化剂的应用及膜电极的制备工艺条件提供了参考.     

Penetration of nanoparticles through screen-type diffusion batteries

The deposition of aerosol nanoparticles from Stokes flows in screen-type diffusion batteries designed for the determination of diffusion coefficients for suspended nanoparticles is considered. Average fiber collection efficiencies η calculated for screens consisting of two perpendicularly contacting rows of parallel equidistant straight fibers agree with the experimental data obtained for woven screens within the Peclet number range Pe = 0.15−1000. It is shown that, for dense screens, the η ∼ Pe^−2/3 power dependence is valid at Pe > 10. For rarefied screens, this dependence is fulfilled down to Pe ∼ 0.1. At Pe ≪ 1, the integral flow of particles advancing on the fibers of the first row in the screen and the fiber collection efficiency, η of an isolated row tends to a geometrical limit, which is equal to the ratio of the distance between the axes of the fibers to the fiber diameter.     

Organic reactions of monolayer-protected metal nanoparticles

This paper presents a concise review of various organic reactions of monolayer-protected metal nanoparticles, with an emphasis on their current applications. Organic reactions of monolayer-protected nanoparticles lead to the functionalized nanoparticles, which exhibit interesting properties such as catalytic, electrochemical, photoresponsive, chemical sensing, and biocompatible properties. To cite this article: D.K.P. Ng, C. R. Chimie 6 (2003).     

Water-gas-shift reaction on metal nanoparticles and surfaces

Density functional theory was employed to investigate the water-gas-shift reaction (WGS, CO+H2O-->H2+CO2) on Au29 and Cu29 nanoparticles seen with scanning tunneling microscopy in model AuCeO2(111) and CuCeO2(111) catalysts. Au(100) and Cu(100) surfaces were also included for comparison. According to the calculations of the authors, the WGS on these systems operate via either redox or associative carboxyl mechanism, while the rate-limiting step is the same, water dissociation. The WGS activity decreases in a sequence: Cu29>Cu(100)>Au29>Au(100), which agrees well with the experimental observations. Both nanoparticles are more active than their parent bulk surfaces. The nanoscale promotion on the WGS activity is associated with the low-coordinated corner and the edge sites as well as the fluxionality of the particles, which makes the nanoparticles more active than the flat surfaces for breaking the O-H bond. In addition, the role of the oxide support during the WGS was addressed by comparing the activity seen in the calculations of the authors for the Au29 and Cu29 nanoparticles and activity reported for XCeO2(111) and XZnO(000i)(X=Cu or Au) surfaces.     

The role of vortices in the process of impurity nanoparticles coalescence in liquid helium

The process of condensation of metal atoms in superfluid helium was shown to occur mainly in the quantized vortices. Firstly the spherical nanocrystals were grown there. At low metal content in liquid they fused then into long cylindrical nanowires. At higher metal content the spherical microparticles were formed instead with their size terminated by mutual repulsion arisen in vortex core. Small number of zigzag-shaped nanowires was found to be formed in usual vortices of normal liquid helium as well. The production of ideal 1-D structures such as long polymer chains was predicted for non-metallic material condensation in superfluid helium.     

Modeling the release of nanoparticles from mobile microcapsules

The authors present a novel computational approach to simulate both the release of nanoparticles from a microcapsule, which is moving through a microchannel, and the adsorption of the released particles onto the channel walls. By integrating the lattice spring model for the micromechanics of elastic solids and the lattice Boltzmann model for fluid dynamics, they simulate the relevant fluid-structure interactions in the system. In particular, they capture the dynamic interactions among the capsule's elastic shell, the encapsulated fluid, and the external, host solution. The nanoparticles are treated as "tracer particles" and their motion is modeled via a Brownian dynamics simulation. An imposed pressure gradient drives the capsule to move along an adhesive substrate and the particles are released from the surface of this mobile capsule. The authors determine how the elasticity of the capsule, the strength of the capsule-surface adhesion and the diffusion coefficient of the nanoparticles affect the relative amount of particles that are adsorbed onto the substrate. In addition to showing that the compliant nature of the capsule can significantly affect the nanoparticle deposition, they isolate a range of parameters for maximizing the adsorbed amount. The findings yield guidelines for optimizing the efficiency of microcapsule carriers in the targeted delivery of nanoparticles.     

Absorption and scattering microscopy of single metal nanoparticles

Several recently developed detection techniques opened studies of individual metal nanoparticles (1-100 nm in diameter) in the optical far field. Eliminating averaging over the broad size and shape distributions produced by even the best of current synthesis methods, these studies hold great promise for gaining a deeper insight into many of the properties of metal nanoparticles, notably electronic and vibrational relaxation. All methods are based on detection of a scattered wave emitted either by the particle itself, or by its close environment. Direct absorption and interference techniques rely on the particle's scattering and have similar limits in signal-to-noise ratio. The photothermal method uses a photo-induced change in the refractive index of the environment as an additional step to scatter a wave with a different wavelength. This leads to a considerable improvement in signal-to-background ratio, and thus to a much higher sensitivity. We briefly discuss and compare these various techniques, review the new results they generated so far, and conclude on their great potential for nanoscience and for single-molecule labelling in biological assays and live cells.     

Selected-control synthesis of metal phosphonate nanoparticles and nanorods

By surfactant-assisted methods, nanoscale Co(O3PC6H5).H2O species of different morphologies, namely, nanoparticles and nanorods, have been successfully synthesized and characterized. Upon removal of the organic part of the compound, peculiar Co2P2O7 porous nanorods formed.