The ability to control the particle size, morphology and composition of nanoparticles is of crucial importance nowadays considering the extensive high-tech applications of 3d transition metal compounds in the applications of catalysts and photosynthesis. Particle size, shape, surface composition, and surface structure are key factors controlling catalytic performance of nanoparticles (NPs). However, the properties of NPs are usually difficult to characterize at the atomic level under practical catalytic conditions, especially when the size of NPs is below 1 nm. Recently, synthetic methods are developed for generating mono- and bimetallic NPs with sizes ranging from less than 1 nm to about 10 nm. Soft X-ray spectroscopy has been used to investigate the catalytic activity of these NPs for catalysis and photosynthesis under real conditions. Soft X-ray spectroscopy offers the information of the local, molecular electronic structure particularly relevant to catalysis: oxidation state, coordination environment, p-backbonding/s-donation, d-p hybridization, and metal-ligand charge transfer. The presentation shows the electronic structure of the reaction intermediates of the nanocatalysts, such as Co oxides, from L-edge Soft X-ray spectroscopy of the transition metals.

In-situ electronic structure study of nanostructured 3D transition metal catalysts

248th National Meeting (2014)

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