Themed collection Size Selected Clusters and Particles: From Physical Chemistry to Catalysis

The physicochemical and catalytic properties of matter can change dramatically and in an unexpected fashion as particle sizes increase from single atoms to small subnanometer sized clusters to particles nanometers in size.

Supported Ru and Pt nanoparticles were synthesized by the method of strong electrostatic adsorption and subsequently treated to achieve a series of catalysts with particle sizes ranging from 1 to 8 nm. This methodology allows the control of particle size applicable to high surface area supports with common metal precursors.

A new homogeneous assay for a fast, selective and sensitive detection and elimination of lead ions has been developed using copper clusters as novel fluorescent probes in aqueous solutions.

Global minimum structures of (Fe₂O₃)_n clusters (n = 1–5) determined for the first time in this size range show weak dependence of the structure and relative stabilities of different isomers on their magnetic states.

A new size-selected cluster deposition technique referred to as “parallel-deposition” is presented.

The zeolite framework stabilizes the mono(μ-oxo)dicopper core, which is the active species in methane to methanol conversion.

The reaction of phenylthiol with AuCl₄⁻ yields gold thiolate nanoparticle precursors in polar solvents.

Submonolayer thin films morphologies obtained by deposition of size-selected Co_xPt_1−x clusters on graphite have been analyzed for different values of x. We put into evidence that the introduction of platinum atoms in the incident particles drastically changes the interaction between clusters and a local self-organization of size selected magnetic nanoparticles can be achieved.

We have investigated model systems of silver clusters with different sizes (3 and 15 atoms) deposited on alumina and titania supports using ambient pressure X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy.

AuPd shell–Au core promoters with controlled shell thickness supported on titanium dioxide improve the photocatalytic hydrogen production.

An investigation into the effects of the vapour-phase hydrogenation of 1-pentyne on the atomic structures of size-selected Au and Pd nanoclusters.

In situ X-ray photoemission electron microscopy reveals the evolution of chemical composition and magnetism of individual iron nanoparticles during oxidation.

The metal center of [Zn(OH)]⁺ serves as active site in the regiospecific hydride transfer to generate [i-C₃H₇]⁺ as major product in the reaction with C₃H₈. In the [Zn(OH)]⁺–C₃H₈ system, a high regioselectivity features the remarkable chemoselectivity.

Infrared spectra confirm that hydrogen forms bridged bonds along the edges of 13-atom platinum clusters.

Water efficiently reacts with small free ruthenium oxide clusters via internal hydrogen shift.

O₂ activation and dissociation become more difficult over subnanometric silver clusters, but selectivity towards propene epoxidation does not improve.

Computational studies of electrochemical reduction of CO₂ were carried out using tetra-atomic transition metal clusters.

We report the structural and electronic properties of Au_n (n =1–7 and 10) clusters supported on clean α-Al₂O₃(0001) surface using first principles approach. To underscore the effect of support interaction, the geometries of the deposited Au clusters are compared with their gas-phase structures.

The Ag₃(CO₃)/MgO(100) complex transforms in the presence of NO and O₂ into a highly active Ag₃(CO₃) (NO₂)₂/MgO(100) NOox catalyst.

The Au₁Cu₃/TiO₂ catalyst shows an increase in butadiene selective hydrogenation conversion, assigned to copper segregation at the surface of bimetallic particles.

Mass distribution, morphology and chemical composition critically affect the catalytic properties of Pt_xY nanoparticles.

The gas-phase catalytic cycle of CO oxidation with N₂O takes place on Cu_n⁻, and proceeds most efficiently at n = 7.

The type of metal precursor and support affects rhodium dispersion. The combination of X-ray absorption and electron microscopy analysis allowed quantification of the amount of atomically dispersed rhodium over catalysts.

We use differential extended X-ray absorption fine structure (Δ-EXAFS) to monitor the Ar-induced surface restructuring of silica-supported Pd nanoclusters (1 nm diameter) at 77 K.

Pathways for propene oxide, acrolein and propanone formation on oxidized silver surfaces are studied using DFT simulations.

Oxygen dissociation studies performed on Pt₁₁₆ nanoparticles highlight the importance of surface flexibility for fast reaction kinetics.

Temperature-programmed-desorption spectra of ¹³C¹⁶O¹⁸O catalytically produced by the monatomic-layered Pt₃₀ cluster disk strongly bonded to the Si(111) surface.

Equilibrium Ag–Pd nanoparticles have a Ag-rich surface, and a Pd-rich subsurface layer.

Size-selected Pt_n clusters on the Al₂O₃ surface form two-dimensional planar structures at n ≤ 18 and three-dimensional two-layer structures start to appear at n ≥ 19. They are composed of neutral and cationic Pt atoms.

The first experimentally determined binding energies for CO to gas-phase metal clusters in any charge state approach bulk phase values.

Regular arrays of Pd and PdAu clusters with tunable size and composition supported on nanostructured alumina usable as model catalysts.

The catalytic properties of atomically size-selected Pt_n clusters (n = 1, 2, 4, 7, 8, 9, 10, 14, 18) supported on alumina/Re(0001) are investigated and correlated to their physical and electronic structures.

Pure and Zn-doped Pt clusters on magnesia go flat and covalent, and stand upright.

A systematic study of the electronic structure and equilibrium geometries of Cu_n, Cu_n−1H, Ag_n, and Ag_n−1H; n = 2–5 clusters is carried out using photoelectron spectroscopy (PES) experiments and density functional theory based calculations.