A research team at the University of Tokyo has successfully revealed the three-dimensional atomic and electronic structures of a platinum (Pt) nanoparticle supported on a SrTiO3 (001) substrate using atomic-resolution electron microscopy combined with theoretical calculations. Noble metal nanoparticles supported on substrates have been widely used in heterogeneous catalysis, such as water splitting and the promotion of various chemical reactions. To understand intrinsic catalytic activity, it is essential to elucidate the catalytic active sites and their charge density distributions. In this study, the team quantitatively analyzed the intensity of atomic-resolution electron micrographs and successfully reconstructed the three-dimensional atomic structure of the Pt nanoparticle on the SrTiO3 (001) substrate. In combination with theoretical calculations, the team revealed that negative charge is localized at atomic sites with low coordination numbers, which are structurally unstable, and that these sites serve as active catalytic centers. These findings are expected to provide new guidelines for catalyst design and to accelerate the development of high-performance catalysts.
(Left) Atomic-resolution electron microscopy image. (Center) Statistical intensity analysis of the micrograph. (Right) 3D reconstruction of the Pt nanoparticle and their charge density distribution.
Papers
Journal: Nature Communications
Title: 3D dynamic structure of a Pt nanoparticle on SrTiO3 (001) during in-situ heating atomic-resolution ADF STEM imaging
Authors: Ryo Ishikawa, Rikuto Kubota, Kazuaki Kawahara, Toshihiro Futazuka, Yuichi Ikuhara, Naoya Shibata
Elucidation of scattering mechanism of 2DEG in ScAlN/GaN heterostructure: Paving the Way for Performance Enhancement of High-Frequency GaN HEMTs
