1
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Vogl LM, Schweizer P, Maeder X, Utke I, Minor AM, Michler J. Unraveling Interdiffusion Phenomena and the Role of Nanoscale Diffusion Barriers in the Copper-Gold System. ACS NANO 2024. [PMID: 39414568 DOI: 10.1021/acsnano.4c08502] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/18/2024]
Abstract
Diffusion is one of the most fundamental concepts in materials science, playing a pivotal role in materials synthesis, forming, and degradation. Of particular importance is solid state interdiffusion of metals which defines the usable parameter space for material combinations in the form of alloys. This parameter space can be explored on the macroscopic scale by using diffusion couples. However, this method reaches its limit when going to low temperatures, small scales, and when testing ultrathin diffusion barriers. Therefore, this work transfers the principle of the diffusion couples to small scales by using core-shell nanowires and in situ heating. This allows us to delve into the interdiffusion dynamics of copper and gold, revealing the interplay between diffusion and the disorder-order phase transition. Our in situ TEM experiments in combination with chemical mapping reveal the interdiffusion coefficients of Cu and Au at low temperatures and highlight the impact of ordering processes on the diffusion behavior. The formation of ordered domains within the solid-solution is examined using high-resolution imaging and nanodiffraction including strain mapping. In addition, we examine the effectiveness of ultrathin Al2O3 barrier layers to control interdiffusion of the diffusion couple. Our findings indicate that a 5 nm thick layer serves as an efficient diffusion barrier. This research provides valuable insights into the interdiffusion behavior of Cu and Au on the nanoscale, offering potential applications in the development of miniaturized integrated circuits and nanodevices.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lilian M Vogl
- Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technology (Empa), 3603 Thun, Switzerland
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of California, Berkeley, California 94720, United States
| | - Peter Schweizer
- Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technology (Empa), 3603 Thun, Switzerland
- National Center for Electron Microscopy (NCEM), Molecular Foundry, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, California 94720, United States
| | - Xavier Maeder
- Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technology (Empa), 3603 Thun, Switzerland
| | - Ivo Utke
- Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technology (Empa), 3603 Thun, Switzerland
| | - Andrew M Minor
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of California, Berkeley, California 94720, United States
- National Center for Electron Microscopy (NCEM), Molecular Foundry, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, California 94720, United States
| | - Johann Michler
- Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technology (Empa), 3603 Thun, Switzerland
- Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Lausanne (EPFL), 1015 Lausanne, Switzerland
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2
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Han Y, Evans JW. Real-Time KMC Simulation of Vacancy-Mediated Intermixing in Au@Ag Octahedral Core-Cubic Shell Nanocrystals with Ab Initio-Guided Kinetics. ACS NANO 2024; 18:25036-25045. [PMID: 39083699 DOI: 10.1021/acsnano.4c06435] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/02/2024]
Abstract
Utilization of core-shell rather than monometallic nanocrystals (NCs) facilitates fine-tuning of NC properties for applications. However, compositional evolution via intermixing can degrade these properties prompting recent experimental studies. We develop an atomistic-level stochastic model for vacancy-mediated intermixing exploiting a formalism which allows incorporation at an ab initio density functional theory level of not just the thermodynamics of vacancy formation, but also relevant diffusion barriers for a vast number of possible local environments (in the core and in the shell, at the interface, and in the intermixed phase). This facilitates a predictive treatment and comprehensive understanding of intermixing on the relevant time scale (e.g., 101-103 s). In contrast, previous modeling at the atomistic level utilized only unrealistic generic prescriptions of barriers or employed simplified continuum treatments. For Au@Ag octahedral core-cubic shell NCs, our modeling not only captures the experimentally observed rate or time scale for intermixing of ∼100 s at 450 °C for 60 nm NCs, but also elucidates the underlying rate controlling processes and the effective intermixing barrier.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yong Han
- Ames National Laboratory, US Department of Energy, Ames, Iowa 50011, United States
- Department of Physics & Astronomy, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa 50011, United States
| | - James W Evans
- Ames National Laboratory, US Department of Energy, Ames, Iowa 50011, United States
- Department of Physics & Astronomy, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa 50011, United States
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3
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Guan T, Liang S, Kang Y, Pensa E, Li D, Liang W, Liang Z, Bulut Y, Reck KA, Xiao T, Guo R, Drewes J, Strunskus T, Schwartzkopf M, Faupel F, Roth SV, Cortés E, Jiang L, Müller-Buschbaum P. High-Power Impulse Magnetron Sputter Deposition of Ag on Self-Assembled Au Nanoparticle Arrays at Low-Temperature Dewetting Conditions. ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES 2024; 16:40286-40296. [PMID: 39013146 PMCID: PMC11299143 DOI: 10.1021/acsami.4c10726] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2024] [Accepted: 07/03/2024] [Indexed: 07/18/2024]
Abstract
Plasmons have facilitated diverse analytical applications due to the boosting signal detectability by hot spots. In practical applications, it is crucial to fabricate straightforward, large-scale, and reproducible plasmonic substrates. Dewetting treatment, via applying direct thermal annealing of metal films, has been used as a straightforward method in the fabrication of such plasmonic nanostructures. However, tailoring the evolution of the dewetting process of metal films poses considerable experimental complexities, mainly due to nanoscale structure formation. Here, we use grazing-incidence small- and wide-angle X-ray scattering for the in situ investigation of the high-power impulse magnetron sputter deposition of Ag on self-assembled Au nanoparticle arrays at low-temperature dewetting conditions. This approach allows us to examine both the direct formation of binary Au/Ag nanostructure and the consequential impact of the dewetting process on the spatial arrangement of the bimetallic nanoparticles. It is observed that the dewetting at 100 °C is sufficient to favor the establishment of a homogenized structural configuration of bimetallic nanostructures, which is beneficial for localized surface plasmon resonances (LSPRs). The fabricated metal nanostructures show potential application for the surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) detection of rhodamine 6G molecules. As SERS platform, bimetallic nanostructures formed with dewetting conditions turn out to be superior to those without dewetting conditions. The method in this work is envisioned as a facile strategy for the fabrication of plasmonic nanostructures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tianfu Guan
- TUM
School of Natural Sciences, Department of Physics, Chair for Functional
Materials, Technical University of Munich, James-Franck-Str. 1, 85748 Garching, Germany
| | - Suzhe Liang
- TUM
School of Natural Sciences, Department of Physics, Chair for Functional
Materials, Technical University of Munich, James-Franck-Str. 1, 85748 Garching, Germany
| | - Yicui Kang
- Nanoinstitute
Munich, Faculty of Physics, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität
München, 80539 München, Germany
| | - Evangelina Pensa
- Nanoinstitute
Munich, Faculty of Physics, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität
München, 80539 München, Germany
| | - Dong Li
- Jiangsu
Key Laboratory for Carbon-Based Functional Materials & Devices,
Institute of Functional Nano & Soft Materials (FUNSOM), Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, P. R. China
| | - Wenkai Liang
- Jiangsu
Key Laboratory for Carbon-Based Functional Materials & Devices,
Institute of Functional Nano & Soft Materials (FUNSOM), Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, P. R. China
| | - Zhiqiang Liang
- Jiangsu
Key Laboratory for Carbon-Based Functional Materials & Devices,
Institute of Functional Nano & Soft Materials (FUNSOM), Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, P. R. China
| | - Yusuf Bulut
- TUM
School of Natural Sciences, Department of Physics, Chair for Functional
Materials, Technical University of Munich, James-Franck-Str. 1, 85748 Garching, Germany
- Deutsches
Elektronen-Synchrotron DESY, Notkestr. 85, 22607 Hamburg, Germany
| | - Kristian A. Reck
- Chair
for Multicomponent Materials, Department of Materials Science, Kiel University, 24143 Kiel, Germany
| | - Tianxiao Xiao
- TUM
School of Natural Sciences, Department of Physics, Chair for Functional
Materials, Technical University of Munich, James-Franck-Str. 1, 85748 Garching, Germany
| | - Renjun Guo
- TUM
School of Natural Sciences, Department of Physics, Chair for Functional
Materials, Technical University of Munich, James-Franck-Str. 1, 85748 Garching, Germany
| | - Jonas Drewes
- Chair
for Multicomponent Materials, Department of Materials Science, Kiel University, 24143 Kiel, Germany
| | - Thomas Strunskus
- Chair
for Multicomponent Materials, Department of Materials Science, Kiel University, 24143 Kiel, Germany
| | | | - Franz Faupel
- Chair
for Multicomponent Materials, Department of Materials Science, Kiel University, 24143 Kiel, Germany
| | - Stephan V. Roth
- Deutsches
Elektronen-Synchrotron DESY, Notkestr. 85, 22607 Hamburg, Germany
- Department
of Fibre and Polymer Technology, KTH Royal
Institute of Technology, Teknikringen 56-58, SE-100 44 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Emiliano Cortés
- Nanoinstitute
Munich, Faculty of Physics, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität
München, 80539 München, Germany
| | - Lin Jiang
- Jiangsu
Key Laboratory for Carbon-Based Functional Materials & Devices,
Institute of Functional Nano & Soft Materials (FUNSOM), Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, P. R. China
| | - Peter Müller-Buschbaum
- TUM
School of Natural Sciences, Department of Physics, Chair for Functional
Materials, Technical University of Munich, James-Franck-Str. 1, 85748 Garching, Germany
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4
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Wang YC, Slater TJA, Leteba GM, Lang CI, Wang ZL, Haigh SJ. In Situ Single Particle Reconstruction Reveals 3D Evolution of PtNi Nanocatalysts During Heating. SMALL (WEINHEIM AN DER BERGSTRASSE, GERMANY) 2024; 20:e2302426. [PMID: 37907412 DOI: 10.1002/smll.202302426] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2023] [Revised: 08/09/2023] [Indexed: 11/02/2023]
Abstract
Tailoring nanoparticles' composition and morphology is of particular interest for improving their performance for catalysis. A challenge of this approach is that the nanoparticles' optimized initial structure often changes during use. Visualizing the three dimensional (3D) structural transformation in situ is therefore critical, but often prohibitively difficult experimentally. Although electron tomography provides opportunities for 3D imaging, restrictions in the tilt range of in situ holders together with electron dose considerations limit the possibilities for in situ electron tomography studies. Here, an in situ 3D imaging methodology is presented using single particle reconstruction (SPR) that allows 3D reconstruction of nanoparticles with controlled electron dose and without tilting the microscope stage. This in situ SPR methodology is employed to investigate the restructuring and elemental redistribution within a population of PtNi nanoparticles at elevated temperatures. The atomic structure of PtNi is further examined and a heat-induced transition is found from a disordered to an ordered phase. Changes in structure and elemental distribution are linked to a loss of catalytic activity in the oxygen reduction reaction. The in situ SPR methodology employed here can be extended to a wide range of in situ studies employing not only heating, but gaseous, aqueous, or electrochemical environments to reveal in-operando nanoparticle evolution in 3D.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yi-Chi Wang
- Beijing Institute of Nanoenergy and Nanosystems, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 101400, China
- Department of Materials, University of Manchester, Manchester, M13 9PL, UK
- School of Materials Science and Engineering, Tsinghua University, Beijing, 100084, China
| | - Thomas J A Slater
- Cardiff Catalysis Institute, School of Chemistry, Cardiff University, Cardiff, CF10 3AT, UK
| | - Gerard M Leteba
- Centre for Materials Engineering, Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, 7700, South Africa
| | - Candace I Lang
- Centre for Materials Engineering, Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, 7700, South Africa
| | - Zhong Lin Wang
- Beijing Institute of Nanoenergy and Nanosystems, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 101400, China
- School of Materials Science and Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA, 30332-0245, USA
| | - Sarah J Haigh
- Department of Materials, University of Manchester, Manchester, M13 9PL, UK
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5
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Xie X, Albrecht W, van Huis MA, van Blaaderen A. Unexpectedly high thermal stability of Au nanotriangle@mSiO 2 yolk-shell nanoparticles. NANOSCALE 2024; 16:4787-4795. [PMID: 38305037 DOI: 10.1039/d3nr05916b] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/03/2024]
Abstract
The shape of Au nanoparticles (NPs) plays a crucial role for applications in, amongst others, catalysis, electronic devices, biomedicine, and sensing. Typically, the deformation of the morphology of Au NPs is the most significant cause of loss of functionality. Here, we systematically investigate the thermal stability of Au nanotriangles (NTs) coated with (mesoporous) silica shells with different morphologies (core-shell (CS): Au NT@mSiO2/yolk-shell (YS): Au NT@mSiO2) and compare these to 'bare' nanoparticles (Au NTs), by a combination of in situ and/or ex situ TEM techniques and spectroscopy methods. Au NTs with a mesoporous silica (mSiO2) coating were found to show much higher thermal stability than those without a mSiO2 coating, as the mSiO2 shell restricts the (self-)diffusion of surface atoms. For the Au NT@mSiO2 CS and YS NPs, a thicker mSiO2 shell provides better protection than uncoated Au NTs. Surprisingly, the Au NT@mSiO2 YS NPs were found to be as stable as Au NT@mSiO2 CS NPs with a core-shell morphology. We hypothesize that the only explanation for this unexpected finding was the thicker and higher density SiO2 shell of YS NPs that prevents diffusion of Au surface atoms to more thermodynamically favorable positions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaobin Xie
- Soft Condensed Matter, Debye Institute for Nanomaterials Science, Utrecht University, Princetonplein 5, 3584 CC Utrecht, The Netherlands.
| | - Wiebke Albrecht
- Soft Condensed Matter, Debye Institute for Nanomaterials Science, Utrecht University, Princetonplein 5, 3584 CC Utrecht, The Netherlands.
| | - Marijn A van Huis
- Soft Condensed Matter, Debye Institute for Nanomaterials Science, Utrecht University, Princetonplein 5, 3584 CC Utrecht, The Netherlands.
| | - Alfons van Blaaderen
- Soft Condensed Matter, Debye Institute for Nanomaterials Science, Utrecht University, Princetonplein 5, 3584 CC Utrecht, The Netherlands.
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6
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Wang C, Shi Y, Qin D, Xia Y. Bimetallic core-shell nanocrystals: opportunities and challenges. NANOSCALE HORIZONS 2023; 8:1194-1204. [PMID: 37376971 DOI: 10.1039/d3nh00098b] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/29/2023]
Abstract
With mastery over the colloidal synthesis of monometallic nanocrystals, a combination of two distinct metals with intricate architectures has emerged as a new direction of innovation. Among the diverse architectures, the one with a core-shell structure has attracted the most scientific endeavors owing to its merits of high controllability and variability. Along with the new hopes arising from the addition of a shell composed of a different metal, there comes unexpected complications for the surface composition, hindering both structural understanding and application performance. In this Focus article, we present a brief overview of the opportunities provided by the bimetallic core-shell nanocrystals, followed by a discussion of the technical challenge to elucidate the true composition of the outermost surface. Some of the promising solutions are then highlighted as well, aiming to inspire future efforts toward this frontier of research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chenxiao Wang
- School of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia 30332, USA.
| | - Yifeng Shi
- School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia 30332, USA
| | - Dong Qin
- School of Materials Science and Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia 30332, USA
| | - Younan Xia
- School of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia 30332, USA.
- School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia 30332, USA
- The Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology and Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia 30332, USA
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7
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Skorikov A, Batenburg KJ, Bals S. Analysis of 3D elemental distribution in nanomaterials: Towards higher throughput and dose efficiency. J Microsc 2023; 289:157-163. [PMID: 36567626 DOI: 10.1111/jmi.13167] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/10/2022] [Revised: 11/23/2022] [Accepted: 12/20/2022] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
Many advanced nanomaterials rely on carefully designed morphology and elemental distribution to achieve their functionalities. Among the few experimental techniques that can directly visualise the 3D elemental distribution on the nanoscale are approaches based on electron tomography in combination with energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDXS) and electron energy loss spectroscopy (EELS). Unfortunately, these highly informative methods are severely limited by the fundamentally low signal-to-noise ratio, which makes long experimental times and high electron irradiation doses necessary to obtain reliable 3D reconstructions. Addressing these limitations has been the major research question for the development of these techniques in recent years. This short review outlines the latest progress on the methods to reduce experimental time and electron irradiation dose requirements for 3D elemental distribution analysis and gives an outlook on the development of this field in the near future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexander Skorikov
- EMAT and NANOlab Center of Excellence, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium.,Computational Imaging group, Centrum Wiskunde & Informatica (CWI), Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Kees Joost Batenburg
- Computational Imaging group, Centrum Wiskunde & Informatica (CWI), Amsterdam, The Netherlands.,Leiden Institute of Advanced Computer Science (LIACS), Leiden University, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Sara Bals
- EMAT and NANOlab Center of Excellence, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
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8
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Jenkinson K, Liz-Marzán LM, Bals S. Multimode Electron Tomography Sheds Light on Synthesis, Structure, and Properties of Complex Metal-Based Nanoparticles. ADVANCED MATERIALS (DEERFIELD BEACH, FLA.) 2022; 34:e2110394. [PMID: 35438805 DOI: 10.1002/adma.202110394] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2021] [Revised: 03/24/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Electron tomography has become a cornerstone technique for the visualization of nanoparticle morphology in three dimensions. However, to obtain in-depth information about a nanoparticle beyond surface faceting and morphology, different electron microscopy signals must be combined. The most notable examples of these combined signals include annular dark-field scanning transmission electron microscopy (ADF-STEM) with different collection angles and the combination of ADF-STEM with energy-dispersive X-ray or electron energy loss spectroscopies. Here, the experimental and computational development of various multimode tomography techniques in connection to the fundamental materials science challenges that multimode tomography has been instrumental to overcoming are summarized. Although the techniques can be applied to a wide variety of compositions, the study is restricted to metal and metal oxide nanoparticles for the sake of simplicity. Current challenges and future directions of multimode tomography are additionally discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kellie Jenkinson
- EMAT and NANOlab Center of Excellence, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, 2020, Belgium
| | - Luis M Liz-Marzán
- CIC biomaGUNE, Basque Research and Technology Alliance (BRTA), Donostia-San Sebastián, 20014, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Bioingeniería Biomateriales, y Nanomedicina (CIBER-BBN), Donostia-San Sebastián, 20014, Spain
- Ikerbasque, Basque Foundation for Science, Bilbao, 48009, Spain
| | - Sara Bals
- EMAT and NANOlab Center of Excellence, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, 2020, Belgium
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9
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Pedrazo-Tardajos A, Arslan Irmak E, Kumar V, Sánchez-Iglesias A, Chen Q, Wirix M, Freitag B, Albrecht W, Van Aert S, Liz-Marzán LM, Bals S. Thermal Activation of Gold Atom Diffusion in Au@Pt Nanorods. ACS NANO 2022; 16:9608-9619. [PMID: 35687880 DOI: 10.1021/acsnano.2c02889] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Understanding the thermal stability of bimetallic nanoparticles is of vital importance to preserve their functionalities during their use in a variety of applications. In contrast to well-studied bimetallic systems such as Au@Ag, heat-induced morphological and compositional changes in Au@Pt nanoparticles are insufficiently understood, even though Au@Pt is an important material for catalysis. To investigate the thermal instability of Au@Pt nanorods at temperatures below their bulk melting point, we combined in situ heating with two- and three-dimensional electron microscopy techniques, including three-dimensional energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy. The experimental results were used as input for molecular dynamics simulations, to unravel the mechanisms behind the morphological transformation of Au@Pt core-shell nanorods. We conclude that thermal stability is influenced not only by the degree of coverage of Pt on Au but also by structural details of the Pt shell.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adrián Pedrazo-Tardajos
- EMAT, University of Antwerp, Groenenborgerlaan 171, 2020 Antwerp, Belgium
- NANOlab Center of Excellence, University of Antwerp, 2020 Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Ece Arslan Irmak
- EMAT, University of Antwerp, Groenenborgerlaan 171, 2020 Antwerp, Belgium
- NANOlab Center of Excellence, University of Antwerp, 2020 Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Vished Kumar
- CIC biomaGUNE, Basque Research and Technology Alliance (BRTA), 20014 Donostia-San Sebastián, Spain
| | - Ana Sánchez-Iglesias
- CIC biomaGUNE, Basque Research and Technology Alliance (BRTA), 20014 Donostia-San Sebastián, Spain
- Biomedical Research Networking Center in Bioengineering, Biomaterials, and Nanomedicine (CIBER- BBN), 20014 Donostia-San Sebastián, Spain
| | - Qiongyang Chen
- EMAT, University of Antwerp, Groenenborgerlaan 171, 2020 Antwerp, Belgium
- NANOlab Center of Excellence, University of Antwerp, 2020 Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Maarten Wirix
- Thermo Fisher Scientific, Strijp-T, Zwaanstraat 31G, 5651 Eindhoven, The Netherlands
| | - Bert Freitag
- Thermo Fisher Scientific, Strijp-T, Zwaanstraat 31G, 5651 Eindhoven, The Netherlands
| | - Wiebke Albrecht
- EMAT, University of Antwerp, Groenenborgerlaan 171, 2020 Antwerp, Belgium
- NANOlab Center of Excellence, University of Antwerp, 2020 Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Sandra Van Aert
- EMAT, University of Antwerp, Groenenborgerlaan 171, 2020 Antwerp, Belgium
- NANOlab Center of Excellence, University of Antwerp, 2020 Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Luis M Liz-Marzán
- CIC biomaGUNE, Basque Research and Technology Alliance (BRTA), 20014 Donostia-San Sebastián, Spain
- Ikerbasque, Basque Foundation for Science, 48009 Bilbao, Spain
- Biomedical Research Networking Center in Bioengineering, Biomaterials, and Nanomedicine (CIBER- BBN), 20014 Donostia-San Sebastián, Spain
| | - Sara Bals
- EMAT, University of Antwerp, Groenenborgerlaan 171, 2020 Antwerp, Belgium
- NANOlab Center of Excellence, University of Antwerp, 2020 Antwerp, Belgium
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10
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Wang Z, Ke X, Sui M. Recent Progress on Revealing 3D Structure of Electrocatalysts Using Advanced 3D Electron Tomography: A Mini Review. Front Chem 2022; 10:872117. [PMID: 35355785 PMCID: PMC8959462 DOI: 10.3389/fchem.2022.872117] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2022] [Accepted: 02/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Electrocatalysis plays a key role in clean energy innovation. In order to design more efficient, durable and selective electrocatalysts, a thorough understanding of the unique link between 3D structures and properties is essential yet challenging. Advanced 3D electron tomography offers an effective approach to reveal 3D structures by transmission electron microscopy. This mini-review summarizes recent progress on revealing 3D structures of electrocatalysts using 3D electron tomography. 3D electron tomography at nanoscale and atomic scale are discussed, respectively, where morphology, composition, porous structure, surface crystallography and atomic distribution can be revealed and correlated to the performance of electrocatalysts. (Quasi) in-situ 3D electron tomography is further discussed with particular focus on its impact on electrocatalysts' durability investigation and post-treatment. Finally, perspectives on future developments of 3D electron tomography for eletrocatalysis is discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Xiaoxing Ke
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Microstructure and Properties of Solids, Faculty of Materials and Manufacturing, Beijing University of Technology, Beijing, China
| | - Manling Sui
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Microstructure and Properties of Solids, Faculty of Materials and Manufacturing, Beijing University of Technology, Beijing, China
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11
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Tran XQ, Aso K, Yamamoto T, Yang W, Kono Y, Kusada K, Wu D, Kitagawa H, Matsumura S. Quantitative Characterization of the Thermally Driven Alloying State in Ternary Ir-Pd-Ru Nanoparticles. ACS NANO 2022; 16:1612-1624. [PMID: 34962778 DOI: 10.1021/acsnano.1c10414] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Compositional and structural arrangements of constituent elements, especially those at the surface and near-surface layers, are known to greatly influence the catalytic performance of alloyed nanoparticles (NPs). Although much research effort often focuses on the ability to tailor these important aspects in the design stage, their stability under realistic operating conditions remains a major technical challenge. Here, the compositional stability and associated structural evolution of a ternary iridium-palladium-ruthenium (Ir-Pd-Ru) nanoalloy at elevated temperatures have been studied using interrupted in situ scanning transmission electron microscopy and theoretical modeling. The results are based on a combinatory approach of statistical sampling at the sub-nanometer scale for large groups of NPs as well as tracking individual NPs. We find that the solid solution Ir-Pd-Ru NPs (∼5.6 nm) evolved into a Pd-enriched shell supported on an alloyed Ir-Ru-rich core, most notably when the temperature exceeds 500 °C, concurrently with the development of expansive atomic strain in the outer surface and subsurface layers with respect to the core regions. Theoretically, we identify the weak interatomic bonds, low surface energy, and large atomic sizes associated with Pd as the key factors responsible for such observed features.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xuan Quy Tran
- Department of Applied Quantum Physics and Nuclear Engineering, Kyushu University, Motooka 744, Nishi-ku, Fukuoka 819-0395, Japan
| | - Kohei Aso
- Department of Applied Quantum Physics and Nuclear Engineering, Kyushu University, Motooka 744, Nishi-ku, Fukuoka 819-0395, Japan
- School of Materials Science, Japan Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, 1-1 Asahidai, Nomi, Ishikawa 923-1292, Japan
| | - Tomokazu Yamamoto
- Department of Applied Quantum Physics and Nuclear Engineering, Kyushu University, Motooka 744, Nishi-ku, Fukuoka 819-0395, Japan
- The Ultramicroscopy Research Center, Kyushu University, Motooka 744, Nishi-ku, Fukuoka 819-0395, Japan
| | - Wenhui Yang
- Department of Applied Quantum Physics and Nuclear Engineering, Kyushu University, Motooka 744, Nishi-ku, Fukuoka 819-0395, Japan
| | - Yoshiki Kono
- Department of Applied Quantum Physics and Nuclear Engineering, Kyushu University, Motooka 744, Nishi-ku, Fukuoka 819-0395, Japan
| | - Kohei Kusada
- Department of Chemistry, Kyoto University, Kitashirakawa-Oiwakecho, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto 606-8502, Japan
| | - Dongshuang Wu
- Department of Chemistry, Kyoto University, Kitashirakawa-Oiwakecho, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto 606-8502, Japan
| | - Hiroshi Kitagawa
- Department of Chemistry, Kyoto University, Kitashirakawa-Oiwakecho, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto 606-8502, Japan
| | - Syo Matsumura
- Department of Applied Quantum Physics and Nuclear Engineering, Kyushu University, Motooka 744, Nishi-ku, Fukuoka 819-0395, Japan
- The Ultramicroscopy Research Center, Kyushu University, Motooka 744, Nishi-ku, Fukuoka 819-0395, Japan
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12
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Five-second STEM dislocation tomography for 300 nm thick specimen assisted by deep-learning-based noise filtering. Sci Rep 2021; 11:20720. [PMID: 34702955 PMCID: PMC8548491 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-99914-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/18/2021] [Accepted: 09/30/2021] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM) is suitable for visualizing the inside of a relatively thick specimen than the conventional transmission electron microscopy, whose resolution is limited by the chromatic aberration of image forming lenses, and thus, the STEM mode has been employed frequently for computed electron tomography based three-dimensional (3D) structural characterization and combined with analytical methods such as annular dark field imaging or spectroscopies. However, the image quality of STEM is severely suffered by noise or artifacts especially when rapid imaging, in the order of millisecond per frame or faster, is pursued. Here we demonstrate a deep-learning-assisted rapid STEM tomography, which visualizes 3D dislocation arrangement only within five-second acquisition of all the tilt-series images even in a 300 nm thick steel specimen. The developed method offers a new platform for various in situ or operando 3D microanalyses in which dealing with relatively thick specimens or covering media like liquid cells are required.
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13
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Mychinko M, Skorikov A, Albrecht W, Sánchez-Iglesias A, Zhuo X, Kumar V, Liz-Marzán LM, Bals S. The Influence of Size, Shape, and Twin Boundaries on Heat-Induced Alloying in Individual Au@Ag Core-Shell Nanoparticles. SMALL (WEINHEIM AN DER BERGSTRASSE, GERMANY) 2021; 17:e2102348. [PMID: 34259397 DOI: 10.1002/smll.202102348] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2021] [Revised: 05/26/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Environmental conditions during real-world application of bimetallic core-shell nanoparticles (NPs) often include the use of elevated temperatures, which are known to cause elemental redistribution, in turn significantly altering the properties of these nanomaterials. Therefore, a thorough understanding of such processes is of great importance. The recently developed combination of fast electron tomography with in situ heating holders is a powerful approach to investigate heat-induced processes at the single NP level, with high spatial resolution in 3D. In combination with 3D finite-difference diffusion simulations, this method can be used to disclose the influence of various NP parameters on the diffusion dynamics in Au@Ag core-shell systems. A detailed study of the influence of heating on atomic diffusion and alloying for Au@Ag NPs with varying core morphology and crystallographic details is carried out. Whereas the core shape and aspect ratio of the NPs play a minor role, twin boundaries are found to have a strong influence on the elemental diffusion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mikhail Mychinko
- EMAT, University of Antwerp, Groenenborgerlaan 171, Antwerp, 2020, Belgium
- NANOlab Center of Excellence, University of Antwerp, Groenenborgerlaan 171, Antwerp, 2020, Belgium
| | - Alexander Skorikov
- EMAT, University of Antwerp, Groenenborgerlaan 171, Antwerp, 2020, Belgium
- NANOlab Center of Excellence, University of Antwerp, Groenenborgerlaan 171, Antwerp, 2020, Belgium
| | - Wiebke Albrecht
- EMAT, University of Antwerp, Groenenborgerlaan 171, Antwerp, 2020, Belgium
- NANOlab Center of Excellence, University of Antwerp, Groenenborgerlaan 171, Antwerp, 2020, Belgium
| | - Ana Sánchez-Iglesias
- CIC biomaGUNE, Basque Research and Technology Alliance (BRTA), Paseo de Miramón 194, Donostia-San Sebastián, 20014, Spain
- CIBER de Bioingeniería, Biomateriales y Nanomedicina (CIBER-BBN), Paseo de Miramón 194, Donostia-San Sebastián, 20014, Spain
| | - Xiaolu Zhuo
- CIC biomaGUNE, Basque Research and Technology Alliance (BRTA), Paseo de Miramón 194, Donostia-San Sebastián, 20014, Spain
- CIBER de Bioingeniería, Biomateriales y Nanomedicina (CIBER-BBN), Paseo de Miramón 194, Donostia-San Sebastián, 20014, Spain
| | - Vished Kumar
- CIC biomaGUNE, Basque Research and Technology Alliance (BRTA), Paseo de Miramón 194, Donostia-San Sebastián, 20014, Spain
| | - Luis M Liz-Marzán
- CIC biomaGUNE, Basque Research and Technology Alliance (BRTA), Paseo de Miramón 194, Donostia-San Sebastián, 20014, Spain
- CIBER de Bioingeniería, Biomateriales y Nanomedicina (CIBER-BBN), Paseo de Miramón 194, Donostia-San Sebastián, 20014, Spain
- Ikerbasque, Basque Foundation for Science, Bilbao, 48013, Spain
- Department of Applied Chemistry, University of the Basque Country, Donostia-San Sebastián, 20018, Spain
| | - Sara Bals
- EMAT, University of Antwerp, Groenenborgerlaan 171, Antwerp, 2020, Belgium
- NANOlab Center of Excellence, University of Antwerp, Groenenborgerlaan 171, Antwerp, 2020, Belgium
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14
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Xu Z, Xie H, Ye W, Yang Y, Ni W. 4.9% Au stabilizes Ag in an atomically homogenous bimetallic alloy for anisotropic nanocrystals with enhanced stability under light irradiation. NANOSCALE 2021; 13:10335-10341. [PMID: 34096558 DOI: 10.1039/d1nr02405a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Instability problems encountered by Ag nanocrystals largely limit their use in practical applications. In AuAg bimetallic alloys, the stability of Ag can be greatly enhanced, whereas doping a high fraction of Au to the alloy usually leads to the loss of the superior properties of Ag and undesirable degradation of the quality factor of the plasmonic resonance. Herein, we provide experimental evidence that the atomically homogenous AuAg alloy nanocrystals with Au fraction as low as 4.9% (at%) possess comparable stability to pure Au, while the superior plasmonic properties of Ag are largely reserved. The study is based on the synthetic strategy developed for the overgrowth on the Au nanorods of atomically homogenous AuAg alloy shells with a tunable Au/Ag ratio but constant size and anisotropic shape. The stability of over 800 individual alloy nanocrystals in the absence of surfactants is simultaneously characterized at the single-particle level for over 10 h under light irradiation. The stability transition is explained in correlation with the charge redistribution of Ag occurring at the same critical Au fraction. We note that such bimetallic alloy nanocrystals with a low Au fraction possessing both high stability and high quality of resonance are preferred in fundamental researches and practical applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhenying Xu
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Thin Films, School of Physical Science and Technology, Soochow University, Suzhou, Jiangsu 215006, China.
| | - Hao Xie
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Thin Films, School of Physical Science and Technology, Soochow University, Suzhou, Jiangsu 215006, China.
| | - Weixiang Ye
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Thin Films, School of Physical Science and Technology, Soochow University, Suzhou, Jiangsu 215006, China.
| | - Yi Yang
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Thin Films, School of Physical Science and Technology, Soochow University, Suzhou, Jiangsu 215006, China.
| | - Weihai Ni
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Thin Films, School of Physical Science and Technology, Soochow University, Suzhou, Jiangsu 215006, China.
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15
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Bunje H, Li Y, Liz-Marzán LM, Millstone JE, Nie G, Shmakov SN, Weiss PS. Putting the World Back Together and Announcing the 2021 ACS Nano Award Lecture Laureates. ACS NANO 2021; 15:7837-7839. [PMID: 34034424 DOI: 10.1021/acsnano.1c04048] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
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16
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MacArthur KE, Clement A, Heggen M, Dunin-Borkowski RE. Combining quantitative ADF STEM with SiN x membrane-based MEMS devices: A simulation study with Pt nanoparticles. Ultramicroscopy 2021; 231:113270. [PMID: 33888359 DOI: 10.1016/j.ultramic.2021.113270] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/08/2020] [Revised: 03/24/2021] [Accepted: 04/05/2021] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
Computer simulations are used to assess the influence of a 20-nm-thick SiNx membrane on the quantification of atomic-resolution annular dark-field (ADF) scanning transmission electron microscopy images of Pt nanoparticles. The discussions include the effect of different nanoparticle/membrane arrangements, accelerating voltage, nanoparticle thickness and the presence of adjacent atomic columns on the accuracy with which the number of Pt atoms in each atom column can be counted. The results, which are based on the use of ADF scattering cross-sections, show that an accuracy of better than a single atom is attainable at 200 and 300 kV. At 80kV, the scattering in a typical SiNx membrane is sufficiently strong that the best possible atom counting accuracy is reduced to +/- 2 atoms. The implications of the work for quantitative studies of Pt nanoparticles imaged through SiNx membranes are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katherine E MacArthur
- Ernst Ruska-Centre for Microscopy and Spectroscopy with Electrons and Peter Grünberg Institute, Forschungszentrum Jülich, 52425 Jülich, Germany.
| | - Antoine Clement
- Ernst Ruska-Centre for Microscopy and Spectroscopy with Electrons and Peter Grünberg Institute, Forschungszentrum Jülich, 52425 Jülich, Germany; Ecole Nationale Supérieure des Mines de Nancy, Campus Artem, BP 14234, 92 rue du Sergent Blandan, 54042 Nancy cedex, France
| | - Marc Heggen
- Ernst Ruska-Centre for Microscopy and Spectroscopy with Electrons and Peter Grünberg Institute, Forschungszentrum Jülich, 52425 Jülich, Germany
| | - Rafal E Dunin-Borkowski
- Ernst Ruska-Centre for Microscopy and Spectroscopy with Electrons and Peter Grünberg Institute, Forschungszentrum Jülich, 52425 Jülich, Germany
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17
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Bagiński M, Pedrazo-Tardajos A, Altantzis T, Tupikowska M, Vetter A, Tomczyk E, Suryadharma RN, Pawlak M, Andruszkiewicz A, Górecka E, Pociecha D, Rockstuhl C, Bals S, Lewandowski W. Understanding and Controlling the Crystallization Process in Reconfigurable Plasmonic Superlattices. ACS NANO 2021; 15:4916-4926. [PMID: 33621046 PMCID: PMC8028333 DOI: 10.1021/acsnano.0c09746] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/04/2023]
Abstract
The crystallization of nanomaterials is a primary source of solid-state, photonic structures. Thus, a detailed understanding of this process is of paramount importance for the successful application of photonic nanomaterials in emerging optoelectronic technologies. While colloidal crystallization has been thoroughly studied, for example, with advanced in situ electron microscopy methods, the noncolloidal crystallization (freezing) of nanoparticles (NPs) remains so far unexplored. To fill this gap, in this work, we present proof-of-principle experiments decoding a crystallization of reconfigurable assemblies of NPs at a solid state. The chosen material corresponds to an excellent testing bed, as it enables both in situ and ex situ investigation using X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), high-angle annular dark-field scanning transmission electron microscopy (HAADF-STEM), atomic force microscopy (AFM), and optical spectroscopy in visible and ultraviolet range (UV-vis) techniques. In particular, ensemble measurements with small-angle XRD highlighted the dependence of the correlation length in the NPs assemblies on the number of heating/cooling cycles and the rate of cooling. Ex situ TEM imaging further supported these results by revealing a dependence of domain size and structure on the sample preparation route and by showing we can control the domain size over 2 orders of magnitude. The application of HAADF-STEM tomography, combined with in situ thermal control, provided three-dimensional single-particle level information on the positional order evolution within assemblies. This combination of real and reciprocal space provides insightful information on the anisotropic, reversibly reconfigurable assemblies of NPs. TEM measurements also highlighted the importance of interfaces in the polydomain structure of nanoparticle solids, allowing us to understand experimentally observed differences in UV-vis extinction spectra of the differently prepared crystallites. Overall, the obtained results show that the combination of in situ heating HAADF-STEM tomography with XRD and ex situ TEM techniques is a powerful approach to study nanoparticle freezing processes and to reveal the crucial impact of disorder in the solid-state aggregates of NPs on their plasmonic properties.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maciej Bagiński
- Faculty
of Chemistry, University of Warsaw, 1 Pasteura St., 02-093 Warsaw, Poland
| | - Adrián Pedrazo-Tardajos
- Electron
Microscopy for Materials Research, University
of Antwerp, Groenenborgerlaan, 171, 2020 Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Thomas Altantzis
- Electron
Microscopy for Materials Research, University
of Antwerp, Groenenborgerlaan, 171, 2020 Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Martyna Tupikowska
- Faculty
of Chemistry, University of Warsaw, 1 Pasteura St., 02-093 Warsaw, Poland
| | - Andreas Vetter
- Institute
of Theoretical Solid State Physics, Karlsruhe
Institute of Technology, 76131 Karlsruhe, Germany
| | - Ewelina Tomczyk
- Faculty
of Chemistry, University of Warsaw, 1 Pasteura St., 02-093 Warsaw, Poland
| | - Radius N.S. Suryadharma
- Institute
of Theoretical Solid State Physics, Karlsruhe
Institute of Technology, 76131 Karlsruhe, Germany
| | - Mateusz Pawlak
- Faculty
of Chemistry, University of Warsaw, 1 Pasteura St., 02-093 Warsaw, Poland
| | - Aneta Andruszkiewicz
- Faculty
of Chemistry, University of Warsaw, 1 Pasteura St., 02-093 Warsaw, Poland
- Department
of Chemistry, Uppsala Universitet, Lägerhyddsvägen 1, 751 20 Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Ewa Górecka
- Faculty
of Chemistry, University of Warsaw, 1 Pasteura St., 02-093 Warsaw, Poland
| | - Damian Pociecha
- Faculty
of Chemistry, University of Warsaw, 1 Pasteura St., 02-093 Warsaw, Poland
| | - Carsten Rockstuhl
- Institute
of Theoretical Solid State Physics, Karlsruhe
Institute of Technology, 76131 Karlsruhe, Germany
- Institute
of Nanotechnology, Karlsruhe Institute of
Technology, 76021 Karlsruhe, Germany
| | - Sara Bals
- Electron
Microscopy for Materials Research, University
of Antwerp, Groenenborgerlaan, 171, 2020 Antwerp, Belgium
- (S.B.)
| | - Wiktor Lewandowski
- Faculty
of Chemistry, University of Warsaw, 1 Pasteura St., 02-093 Warsaw, Poland
- (W.L.)
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18
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Albrecht W, Van Aert S, Bals S. Three-Dimensional Nanoparticle Transformations Captured by an Electron Microscope. Acc Chem Res 2021; 54:1189-1199. [PMID: 33566587 DOI: 10.1021/acs.accounts.0c00711] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
ConspectusThree-dimensional (3D) morphology and composition govern the properties of nanoparticles (NPs). However, due to their high surface-to-volume ratio, the morphology and composition of nanomaterials are not as static as those for their bulk counterparts. One major influence is the increase in relative contribution of surface diffusion, which underlines rapid reshaping of NPs in response to changes in their environment. If not accounted for, these effects might affect the robustness of prospective NPs in practically relevant conditions, such as elevated temperatures, intense light illumination, or changing chemical environments. In situ techniques are promising tools to study NP transformations under relevant conditions. Among those tools, in situ transmission electron microscopy (TEM) provides an elegant platform to directly visualize NP changes down to the atomic scale. By the use of specialized holders or microscopes, external stimuli, such as heat, or environments, such as gas and liquids, can be controllably introduced inside the TEM. In addition, TEM is also a valuable tool to determine NP transformations upon ex situ stimuli such as laser excitation. However, standard TEM yields two-dimensional (2D) projection images of 3D objects. With the growing complexity of NP shapes and compositions, the information that is obtained in this manner is often insufficient to understand intricate diffusion dynamics.In this Account, we describe recent progress on measuring NP transformations in 3D inside the electron microscope. First, we discuss existing possibilities to obtain 3D information using either tomographic methods or the so-called atom counting technique, which utilizes single projection images. Next, we show how these techniques can be combined with in situ holders to quantify diffusion processes on a single nanoparticle level. Specifically, we focus on anisotropic metal NPs at elevated temperatures and in varying gas environments. Anisotropic metal NPs are important for plasmonic applications, because sharp tips and edges result in strong electromagnetic field enhancements. By electron tomography, surface diffusion as well as elemental diffusion can be tracked in monometallic and bimetallic NPs, which can then be directly related to changes in plasmonic properties of these systems. By atom counting, it has furthermore become possible to monitor the evolution of crystalline facets of metal NPs under gas and heat treatments, a change that influences catalytic properties. Next to in situ processes, we also demonstrate the value of electron tomography to assess external laser-induced NP transformations, making it viable to detect structural changes with atomic resolution. The application of the proposed methodologies is by far not limited to metal nanoparticles. In the final section, we therefore outline future material research that can benefit from tracking NP transformations from 3D techniques.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wiebke Albrecht
- EMAT and NANOlab Center of Excellence, University of Antwerp, B-2020 Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Sandra Van Aert
- EMAT and NANOlab Center of Excellence, University of Antwerp, B-2020 Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Sara Bals
- EMAT and NANOlab Center of Excellence, University of Antwerp, B-2020 Antwerp, Belgium
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19
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De Meyer R, Albrecht W, Bals S. Effectiveness of reducing the influence of CTAB at the surface of metal nanoparticles during in situ heating studies by TEM. Micron 2021; 144:103036. [PMID: 33640671 DOI: 10.1016/j.micron.2021.103036] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2021] [Revised: 02/15/2021] [Accepted: 02/15/2021] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
In situ TEM is a valuable technique to offer novel insights in the behavior of nanomaterials under various conditions. However, interpretation of in situ experiments is not straightforward since the electron beam can impact the outcome of such measurements. For example, ligands surrounding metal nanoparticles transform into a protective carbon layer upon electron beam irradiation and may impact the apparent thermal stability during in situ heating experiments. In this work, we explore the effect of different treatments typically proposed to remove such ligands. We found that plasma treatment prior to heating experiments for Au nanorods and nanostars increased the apparent thermal stability of the nanoparticles, while an activated carbon treatment resulted in a decrease of the observed thermal stability. Treatment with HCl barely changed the experimental outcome. These results demonstrate the importance of carefully selecting pre-treatments procedures during in situ heating experiments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robin De Meyer
- EMAT, University of Antwerp, Groenenborgerlaan 171, B-2020, Antwerp, Belgium; Nanolab Centre of Excellence, Groenenborgerlaan 171, B-2020, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Wiebke Albrecht
- EMAT, University of Antwerp, Groenenborgerlaan 171, B-2020, Antwerp, Belgium; Nanolab Centre of Excellence, Groenenborgerlaan 171, B-2020, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Sara Bals
- EMAT, University of Antwerp, Groenenborgerlaan 171, B-2020, Antwerp, Belgium; Nanolab Centre of Excellence, Groenenborgerlaan 171, B-2020, Antwerp, Belgium.
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20
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Vanrompay H, Skorikov A, Bladt E, Béché A, Freitag B, Verbeeck J, Bals S. Fast versus conventional HAADF-STEM tomography of nanoparticles: advantages and challenges. Ultramicroscopy 2020; 221:113191. [PMID: 33321424 DOI: 10.1016/j.ultramic.2020.113191] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/01/2020] [Revised: 11/30/2020] [Accepted: 12/06/2020] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
HAADF-STEM tomography is a widely used experimental technique for analyzing nanometer-scale structures of a large variety of materials in three dimensions. It is especially useful for studying crystalline nanoparticles, where conventional TEM tomography suffers from diffraction-related artefacts. Unfortunately, the acquisition of a HAADF-STEM tilt series can easily take up one hour or more, depending on the complexity of the experiment. It is therefore challenging to investigate samples that do not withstand long electron beam illumination or to acquire a large number of tilt series during a single TEM experiment. The latter would facilitate obtaining more statistically representative 3D data, and enable performing dynamic in situ 3D characterizations with a finer time resolution. Various HAADF-STEM acquisition strategies have been proposed to accelerate the tomographic acquisition and reduce the required electron dose. These methods include tilting the holder continuously while acquiring a projection "movie" and a hybrid, incremental, methodology which combines the benefits of the conventional and continuous technique. However, until now an experimental evaluation of these techniques has been lacking. In this paper, the different acquisition strategies will be experimentally compared in terms of speed, resolution and electron dose. This evaluation will be performed based on experimental tilt series, acquired for various metallic nanoparticles with different shapes and sizes. We discuss the necessary data processing and provide a general guideline that can be used to determine the most optimal acquisition strategy for specific electron tomography experiments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hans Vanrompay
- Electron Microscopy for Materials Science (EMAT), University of Antwerp, Groenenborgerlaan 171, 2020 Antwerp, Belgium; NANOlab Center of Excellence, University of Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Alexander Skorikov
- Electron Microscopy for Materials Science (EMAT), University of Antwerp, Groenenborgerlaan 171, 2020 Antwerp, Belgium; NANOlab Center of Excellence, University of Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Eva Bladt
- Electron Microscopy for Materials Science (EMAT), University of Antwerp, Groenenborgerlaan 171, 2020 Antwerp, Belgium; NANOlab Center of Excellence, University of Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Armand Béché
- Electron Microscopy for Materials Science (EMAT), University of Antwerp, Groenenborgerlaan 171, 2020 Antwerp, Belgium; NANOlab Center of Excellence, University of Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Bert Freitag
- Thermo Fisher Scientific, Achtseweg Noord 5, 5651 GG Eindhoven, The Netherlands
| | - Johan Verbeeck
- Electron Microscopy for Materials Science (EMAT), University of Antwerp, Groenenborgerlaan 171, 2020 Antwerp, Belgium; NANOlab Center of Excellence, University of Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Sara Bals
- Electron Microscopy for Materials Science (EMAT), University of Antwerp, Groenenborgerlaan 171, 2020 Antwerp, Belgium; NANOlab Center of Excellence, University of Antwerp, Belgium.
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21
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Baaske M, Neu PS, Orrit M. Label-Free Plasmonic Detection of Untethered Nanometer-Sized Brownian Particles. ACS NANO 2020; 14:14212-14218. [PMID: 33054166 PMCID: PMC7596787 DOI: 10.1021/acsnano.0c07335] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/14/2023]
Abstract
Optical detection of individual nanometer-sized analytes, virus particles, and protein molecules holds great promise for understanding and control of biological samples and healthcare applications. As fluorescent labels impose restrictions on detection bandwidth and require lengthy and invasive processes, label-free optical techniques are highly desirable. Here, we introduce an optical technique capable of transforming gold nanorods commonly used as photostable labels into highly localized high-speed probes. Our method detects single untethered 5 nm diameter gold particles as they traverse subattoliter volumes in Brownian motion with a time resolution below microseconds.
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22
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González-Rubio G, Milagres de Oliveira T, Albrecht W, Díaz-Núñez P, Castro-Palacio JC, Prada A, González RI, Scarabelli L, Bañares L, Rivera A, Liz-Marzán LM, Peña-Rodríguez O, Bals S, Guerrero-Martínez A. Formation of Hollow Gold Nanocrystals by Nanosecond Laser Irradiation. J Phys Chem Lett 2020; 11:670-677. [PMID: 31905285 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpclett.9b03574] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/11/2023]
Abstract
The irradiation of spherical gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) with nanosecond laser pulses induces shape transformations yielding nanocrystals with an inner cavity. The concentration of the stabilizing surfactant, the use of moderate pulse fluences, and the size of the irradiated AuNPs determine the efficiency of the process and the nature of the void. Hollow nanocrystals are obtained when molecules from the surrounding medium (e.g., water and organic matter derived from the surfactant) are trapped during laser pulse irradiation. These experimental observations suggest the existence of a subtle balance between the heating and cooling processes experienced by the nanocrystals, which induce their expansion and subsequent recrystallization keeping exogenous matter inside. The described approach provides valuable insight into the mechanism of interaction of a pulsed nanosecond laser with AuNPs, along with interesting prospects for the development of hollow plasmonic nanoparticles with potential applications related to gas and liquid storage at the nanoscale.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guillermo González-Rubio
- CIC biomaGUNE and CIBER-BBN , Paseo de Miramón 182 , 20014 Donostia-San Sebastián , Spain
- Departamento de Química Física , Universidad Complutense de Madrid , Avenida Complutense s/n , 28040 Madrid , Spain
| | | | - Wiebke Albrecht
- EMAT , University of Antwerp , Groenenborgerlaan 171 , B-2020 Antwerp , Belgium
| | - Pablo Díaz-Núñez
- Instituto de Fusión Nuclear "Guillermo Velarde" , Universidad Politécnica de Madrid , José Gutiérrez Abascal 2 , E-28006 Madrid , Spain
| | - Juan Carlos Castro-Palacio
- Instituto de Fusión Nuclear "Guillermo Velarde" , Universidad Politécnica de Madrid , José Gutiérrez Abascal 2 , E-28006 Madrid , Spain
| | - Alejandro Prada
- Departamento de Computación e Ingenierías, Facultad de Ciencias de la Ingeniería , Universidad Católica del Maule , 3480112 Maule , Chile
- Centro de Nanotecnología Aplicada, Facultad de Ciencias , Universidad Mayor , 8580745 Santiago , Chile
| | - Rafael I González
- Centro de Nanotecnología Aplicada, Facultad de Ciencias , Universidad Mayor , 8580745 Santiago , Chile
- Center for the Development of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology (CEDENNA) , Universidad de Santiago de Chile , 9170022 Santiago , Chile
| | - Leonardo Scarabelli
- CIC biomaGUNE and CIBER-BBN , Paseo de Miramón 182 , 20014 Donostia-San Sebastián , Spain
| | - Luis Bañares
- Departamento de Química Física , Universidad Complutense de Madrid , Avenida Complutense s/n , 28040 Madrid , Spain
- Instituto Madrileño de Estudios Avanzados en Nanociencia (IMDEA Nanoscience) , Cantoblanco , 28049 Madrid , Spain
| | - Antonio Rivera
- Instituto de Fusión Nuclear "Guillermo Velarde" , Universidad Politécnica de Madrid , José Gutiérrez Abascal 2 , E-28006 Madrid , Spain
- Departamento de Ingeniería Energética, ETSII Industriales , Universidad Politécnica de Madrid , José Gutiérrez Abascal 2 , E-28006 Madrid , Spain
| | - Luis M Liz-Marzán
- CIC biomaGUNE and CIBER-BBN , Paseo de Miramón 182 , 20014 Donostia-San Sebastián , Spain
- Ikerbasque (Basque Foundation for Science) , 48013 Bilbao , Spain
| | - Ovidio Peña-Rodríguez
- Instituto de Fusión Nuclear "Guillermo Velarde" , Universidad Politécnica de Madrid , José Gutiérrez Abascal 2 , E-28006 Madrid , Spain
- Departamento de Ingeniería Energética, ETSII Industriales , Universidad Politécnica de Madrid , José Gutiérrez Abascal 2 , E-28006 Madrid , Spain
| | - Sara Bals
- EMAT , University of Antwerp , Groenenborgerlaan 171 , B-2020 Antwerp , Belgium
| | - Andrés Guerrero-Martínez
- Departamento de Química Física , Universidad Complutense de Madrid , Avenida Complutense s/n , 28040 Madrid , Spain
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