Control of structural parameters for nanoscaled materials is important in their optimum use in catalysis and other materials applications. The effects of crystallite size on the lattice parameters of the CuxPd1-xO system are explored through powder x-ray diffraction for crystallites ranging in size from approximately 3 nm to macroscopic dimensions. Nanoscale crystallites of CuxPd1-xO demonstrate a lattice contraction in both the “a” and “c” unit cell dimensions when compared to macroscopic crystallites, and this effect can be correlated with crystallite size. For example, for the system Cu0.2Pd0.8O, “a” is about 98% and “c” is about 99% of the macroscaled values for crystallites of approximately 3 nm. The unit cell parameter also contracts with increased copper concentration (x value), and for a given particle size follows Vegard’s law of linearly decreasing cell parameters with increase in x, indicative of the formation of a homogeneous solid solution across the crystallite. The nanoscale crystallites demonstrate lattice parameter trends consistent with the macro scale crystallites from 0≤x≤0.6. The phase limit of Cu in a PdO host structure is also explored for nanocrystalline CuxPd1-xO, and is found to be between x=0.6 and x=0.7, similar to the macrocrystalline solid solution.

Controlling the unit cell lattice parameters in nanoscaled CuxPd1-xO by composition and crystallite size

249th National Meeting (2015)

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