The first two, apparently general, 4-step mechanisms for nanoparticle formation with subsequent agglomeration or monomer growth have been uncovered. The pseudo-elementary steps for the first of the two mechanisms consist of (i) slow continuous nucleation, (ii) autocatalytic growth, (iii) bimolecular agglomeration and then (iv) autocatalytic agglomeration. In the second, closely related mechanism, the first three of the four steps are the same: (i) slow continuous nucleation, (ii) autocatalytic growth, (iii) bimolecular agglomeration, but then a different fourth step consisting of (iv’) secondary autocatalytic growth. Examples for the mechanisms from soluble nanoparticle formation and supported-nanoparticle heterogeneous catalyst formation systems will be described. A recent lead reference is (see also the references cited therein): “A Four-Step Mechanism for the Formation of Supported-Nanoparticle Heterogeneous Catalysts in Contact with Solution: The Conversion of Ir(1,5-COD)Cl/g-Al2O3 to Ir(0)~170/g-Al2O3”, Kent, P. D.; Mondloch, J. E.; Finke, R. G. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2014, 136, 1930-1941.

Two 4-step mechanisms for nanoparticle nucleation, growth, bimolecular agglomeration, and then autocatalytic agglomeration or secondary autocatalytic growth

249th National Meeting (2015)

The official archive and repository for all ACS Meetings & Expositions abstracts and select posters or presentations.