Mesoscale Characterization of Nanoparticles Distribution Using X‐ray Scattering. Issue 40 (10th August 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Gommes, Cedric J.; Prieto, Gonzalo; Zecevic, Jovana; Vanhalle, Maja; Goderis, Bart; de Jong, Krijn P.; de Jongh, Petra E.
• Is Part Of: Angewandte Chemie international edition. Volume 54:Issue 40(2015)
• Page Start: 11804
• Page End: 11808
• Publication Date: 2015-08-10
• Subjects: catalysts -- electron tomography -- nanoparticles -- small‐angle X‐ray scattering -- spatial distribution; Chemistry -- Periodicals; 540
• DOI: 10.1002/anie.201505359
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1433-7851

Abstract

Abstract: The properties of many functional materials depend critically on the spatial distribution of an active phase within a support. In the case of solid catalysts, controlling the spatial distribution of metal (oxide) nanoparticles at the mesoscopic scale offers new strategies to tune their performance and enhance their lifetimes. However, such advanced control requires suitable characterization methods, which are currently scarce. Here, we show how the background in small‐angle X‐ray scattering patterns can be analyzed to quantitatively access the mesoscale distribution of nanoparticles within supports displaying hierarchical porosity. This is illustrated for copper catalysts supported on meso‐ and microporous silica displaying distinctly different metal distributions. Results derived from X‐ray scattering are in excellent agreement with electron tomography. Our strategy opens unprecedented prospects for understanding the properties and to guide the synthesis of a wide array of functional nanomaterials. Abstract : The background is the data: The properties of many materials depend on the spatial distribution of nanoparticles at the mesoscopic scale. The latter distribution can be characterized quantitatively from the background intensity in X‐ray scattering patterns (see picture). Compared to electron tomography, this procedure enhances the sampling by twelve orders of magnitude, and it offers new prospects for in situ studies.