Construction of three-dimensional models of bimetallic nanoparticles based on X-ray absorption spectroscopy data

A new method for constructing three-dimensional models of bimetallic nanoparticles is proposed. This method, which is based on X-ray absorption spectroscopy data on the number and type of nearest neighbors, provides information on the distribution of types of atoms over the nanoparticle volume. The application of the method to the study of the structures of platinum–copper and platinum–silver nanoparticles of metal–carbon electrocatalysts has allowed to distinguish the nanoparticles with a core–shell structure from the nanoparticles with structure of disordered alloy or clusterized solid solution.     

Effect of Heat Treatment on the Formation of Copper Active Centers Obtained by the Interaction of Copper Chloride with H-Mordenite

Physics of the Solid State - The effect of temperature conditions on the formation of copper active sites obtained by solid state ion exchange between copper chloride and H-mordenite zeolite using...     

The effect of thermal treatment on the atomic structure of core–shell PtCu nanoparticles in PtCu/C electrocatalysts

Physics of the Solid State - PtCu/C electrocatalysts with bimetallic PtCu nanoparticles were synthesized by successive chemical reduction of Cu2+ and Pt(IV) in a carbon suspension prepared based on...     

Continuum model of bimetallic nanoparticles for calculating partial coordination numbers

A way of calculating partial coordination numbers is proposed for bimetallic nanoparticles with different radial distributions of atoms relative to a selected center. It is based on a continuum approximation for the atomic density distribution in the volume of nanoparticles (continuum model) and does not require the use of cluster-based models of nanoparticles to obtain information on the distribution of components in nanoparticles. The results obtained in this manner are compared to those from directly calculating the partial coordination numbers in atomic clusters.     

Local Structure of Copper Centers Obtained during Solid-Phase Synthesis in Copper–Mordenite Zeolite

Technical Physics - The influence of temperature conditions for synthesis on the nearest-neighbor environment of copper atoms in copper–mordenite zeolites produced by solid-phase ion exchange...     

Atomic structure of PtCu nanoparticles in PtCu/C catalysts from EXAFS spectroscopy data

Deposited electrocatalysts with different distributions of components in PtCu bimetallic nanoparticles involved in their composition were synthesized by simultaneous and sequential reduction of Cu(2+) and Pt(IV) in a carbon suspension. The dependence of the atomic structure of PtCu nanoparticles on the synthesis conditions and the degree of influence of post-treatment was established from analysis of the changes in Fourier transforms of the experimental Pt and Cu EXAFS spectra, as well as the structural parameters obtained by their fitting before and after the treatment of the materials in an acid solution. A technique was proposed for visualizing the atomic structure of synthesized bimetallic nanoparticles. This technique made it possible to determine the character of the distribution of the components over the nanoparticle volume in accordance with the component composition and local atomic structure parameters determined from EXAFS spectroscopy and to obtain the visualization of the distribution of the components in PtCu nanoparticles synthesized by the aforementioned methods.     

Determination of the local atomic structure of material from X-ray absorption spectroscopy data without fourier analysis of experimental spectra

A technique for analyzing the extended X-ray absorption fine structure spectra of an atom in different structural states in a material under study is proposed. This technique makes it possible to determine the parameters of the nearest environment of absorbing atoms without applying Fourier filtering and related techniques. The proposed approach is tested by an example of the L₃ absorption spectra of platinum, obtained by direct calculation for models of one-component platinum nanoparticles and bimetallic Pt-Ag nanoparticles with different core and shell structures. The error in determining the structural parameters is analyzed, and the range of applicability of the technique proposed is discussed.