Issue 20, 2013

Direct atomic imaging and density functional theory study of the Au24Pd1 cluster catalyst

Abstract

In this study we report a direct, atomic-resolution imaging of calcined Au24Pd1 clusters supported on multiwall carbon nanotubes by employing aberration-corrected scanning transmission electron microscopy. Using gold atoms as mass standards, we confirm the cluster size to be 25 ± 2, in agreement with the Au24Pd1(SR)18 precursor used in the synthesis. Concurrently, a Density-Functional/Basin-Hopping computational algorithm is employed to locate the low-energy configurations of free Au24Pd1 cluster. Cage structures surrounding a single core atom are found to be favored, with a slight preference for Pd to occupy the core site. The cluster shows a tendency toward elongated arrangements, consistent with experimental data. The degree of electron transfer from the Pd dopant to Au is quantified through a Löwdin charge analysis, suggesting that Pd may act as an electron promoter to the surrounding Au atoms when they are involved in catalytic reactions.

Graphical abstract: Direct atomic imaging and density functional theory study of the Au24Pd1 cluster catalyst

Supplementary files

Article information

Article type
Paper
Submitted
13 Apr 2013
Accepted
31 May 2013
First published
03 Jun 2013

Nanoscale, 2013,5, 9620-9625

Direct atomic imaging and density functional theory study of the Au24Pd1 cluster catalyst

A. Bruma, F. R. Negreiros, S. Xie, T. Tsukuda, R. L. Johnston, A. Fortunelli and Z. Y. Li, Nanoscale, 2013, 5, 9620 DOI: 10.1039/C3NR01852K

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