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Alotabi AS, Yin Y, Redaa A, Tesana S, Metha GF, Andersson GG. Effect of TiO 2 Film Thickness on the Stability of Au 9 Clusters with a CrO x Layer. NANOMATERIALS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2022; 12:3218. [PMID: 36145007 PMCID: PMC9506353 DOI: 10.3390/nano12183218] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/17/2022] [Revised: 09/01/2022] [Accepted: 09/09/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Radio frequency (RF) magnetron sputtering allows the fabrication of TiO2 films with high purity, reliable control of film thickness, and uniform morphology. In the present study, the change in surface roughness upon heating two different thicknesses of RF sputter-deposited TiO2 films was investigated. As a measure of the process of the change in surface morphology, chemically -synthesised phosphine-protected Au9 clusters covered by a photodeposited CrOx layer were used as a probe. Subsequent to the deposition of the Au9 clusters and the CrOx layer, samples were heated to 200 ℃ to remove the triphenylphosphine ligands from the Au9 cluster. After heating, the thick TiO2 film was found to be mobile, in contrast to the thin TiO2 film. The influence of the mobility of the TiO2 films on the Au9 clusters was investigated with X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. It was found that the high mobility of the thick TiO2 film after heating leads to a significant agglomeration of the Au9 clusters, even when protected by the CrOx layer. The thin TiO2 film has a much lower mobility when being heated, resulting in only minor agglomeration of the Au9 clusters covered with the CrOx layer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abdulrahman S. Alotabi
- Flinders Institute for Nanoscale Science and Technology, Flinders University, Adelaide, SA 5042, Australia
- Department of Physics, Faculty of Science and Arts in Baljurashi, Albaha University, Baljurashi 65655, Saudi Arabia
- Flinders Microscopy and Microanalysis, College of Science and Engineering, Flinders University, Adelaide, SA 5042, Australia
| | - Yanting Yin
- Flinders Institute for Nanoscale Science and Technology, Flinders University, Adelaide, SA 5042, Australia
- Flinders Microscopy and Microanalysis, College of Science and Engineering, Flinders University, Adelaide, SA 5042, Australia
| | - Ahmad Redaa
- Department of Earth Sciences, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA 5005, Australia
- Faculty of Earth Sciences, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah 21589, Saudi Arabia
| | - Siriluck Tesana
- The MacDiarmid Institute for Advanced Materials and Nanotechnology, School of Physical and Chemical Sciences, University of Canterbury, Christchurch 8041, New Zealand
- National Isotope Centre, GNS Science, Lower Hutt 5010, New Zealand
| | - Gregory F. Metha
- Department of Chemistry, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA 5005, Australia
| | - Gunther G. Andersson
- Flinders Institute for Nanoscale Science and Technology, Flinders University, Adelaide, SA 5042, Australia
- Flinders Microscopy and Microanalysis, College of Science and Engineering, Flinders University, Adelaide, SA 5042, Australia
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Aikens CM, Jin R, Roy X, Tsukuda T. From atom-precise nanoclusters to superatom materials. J Chem Phys 2022; 156:170401. [PMID: 35525653 DOI: 10.1063/5.0095770] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Christine M Aikens
- Department of Chemistry, Kansas State University, Manhattan, Kansas 66506, USA
| | - Rongchao Jin
- Department of Chemistry, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15213, USA
| | - Xavier Roy
- Department of Chemistry, Columbia University, New York, New York 10027, USA
| | - Tatsuya Tsukuda
- Department of Chemistry, Graduate School of Science, The University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-0033, Japan
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Adnan RH, Madridejos JML, Alotabi AS, Metha GF, Andersson GG. A Review of State of the Art in Phosphine Ligated Gold Clusters and Application in Catalysis. ADVANCED SCIENCE (WEINHEIM, BADEN-WURTTEMBERG, GERMANY) 2022; 9:e2105692. [PMID: 35332703 PMCID: PMC9130904 DOI: 10.1002/advs.202105692] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2021] [Revised: 02/23/2022] [Indexed: 05/28/2023]
Abstract
Atomically precise gold clusters are highly desirable due to their well-defined structure which allows the study of structure-property relationships. In addition, they have potential in technological applications such as nanoscale catalysis. The structural, chemical, electronic, and optical properties of ligated gold clusters are strongly defined by the metal-ligand interaction and type of ligands. This critical feature renders gold-phosphine clusters unique and distinct from other ligand-protected gold clusters. The use of multidentate phosphines enables preparation of varying core sizes and exotic structures beyond regular polyhedrons. Weak gold-phosphorous (Au-P) bonding is advantageous for ligand exchange and removal for specific applications, such as catalysis, without agglomeration. The aim of this review is to provide a unified view of gold-phosphine clusters and to present an in-depth discussion on recent advances and key developments for these clusters. This review features the unique chemistry, structural, electronic, and optical properties of gold-phosphine clusters. Advanced characterization techniques, including synchrotron-based spectroscopy, have unraveled substantial effects of Au-P interaction on the composition-, structure-, and size-dependent properties. State-of-the-art theoretical calculations that reveal insights into experimental findings are also discussed. Finally, a discussion of the application of gold-phosphine clusters in catalysis is presented.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rohul H. Adnan
- Department of Chemistry, Faculty of ScienceCenter for Hydrogen EnergyUniversiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM)Johor Bahru81310Malaysia
| | | | - Abdulrahman S. Alotabi
- Flinders Institute for NanoScale Science and TechnologyFlinders UniversityAdelaideSouth Australia5042Australia
- Department of PhysicsFaculty of Science and Arts in BaljurashiAlbaha UniversityBaljurashi65655Saudi Arabia
| | - Gregory F. Metha
- Department of ChemistryUniversity of AdelaideAdelaideSouth Australia5005Australia
| | - Gunther G. Andersson
- Flinders Institute for NanoScale Science and TechnologyFlinders UniversityAdelaideSouth Australia5042Australia
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