Production and precise characterization of nanostructures of interest in catalysis

Venue: Girasole Room, Polo Fabio Ferrari 2 – via Sommarive 9 - Trento
Hour: 11:00

• Maria Chiara Spadaro, Institut Catala de Nanosciencia i Nanotecnologia (ICN2), CSIC & BIST; College of Engineering, Swansea University, UK

Nanostructures deposited from cluster beam in absence of ligands is a promising route for the production of novel catalysts material. The main goal is to obtain desired nanoparticle shape, composition, size and structures. To correctly address these challenges, nanoparticles analysis must be complemented with novel and advanced characterization techniques, such as transmission electron microscopy (TEM). By acquiring high resolution (HR) TEM and scanning (S) TEM images it is possible to determine clusters structure, exposed planes or edges/steps; as well as their chemical composition by acquiring EELS or EDX maps in STEM mode.

In this seminar diverse research findings will be presented, giving a deeper insight into the investigation of the synthesis process. The nanostructures here presented, both oxides and metallic clusters, find application in diverse chemical reactions depending on their composition, structure and defect density distribution. Direct activity-structure dependence is investigated and it can be further exploited for the scaled-up production of catalyst using new cluster sources developed in the last years and here described. These novel cluster sources represent a bridge between model studies and their real application in technology related industries.

Acknowledgments

Maria Chiara Spadaro acknowledged the Marie Curie COFUND Action PROBIST under the grant agreement number 754510.