Metal nanoparticles have shown great catalytic activity at low temperatures for numerous reactions, but sintering of the nanoparticles remains a huge hurdle for practical applications.  To overcome sintering, we are developing a surface modification that results in metal nanoparticles physically isolated in nanosized craters.  For the first time, gold nanoparticles encapsulated in block copolymer reverse micelles were deposited on a titania surface in vacuum using electrospray deposition. Additional titanium dioxide was deposited using atomic layer deposition with the polymers serving as templates to prevent thin film growth on the nanoparticles. Atomic oxygen successfully removed the polymer to leave a surface patterned with irregular craters as shown in scanning electron microscopy images. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy was used to confirm nanoparticle deposition, thin film growth, and polymer removal. The applicability of this surface modification scheme with other organic functionalized nanoparticles will be discussed.

Nanotemplates with electrospray deposition and atomic layer deposition

248th National Meeting (2014)

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