Influence of atomic site-specific strain on catalytic activity of supported nanoparticles
Journal article, 2018

Heterogeneous catalysis is an enabling technology that utilises transition metal nanoparticles (NPs) supported on oxides to promote chemical reactions. Structural mismatch at the
NP–support interface generates lattice strain that could affect catalytic properties. However, detailed knowledge about strain in supported NPs remains elusive. We experimentally
measure the strain at interfaces, surfaces and defects in Pt NPs supported on alumina and ceria with atomic resolution using high-precision scanning transmission electron microscopy.
The largest strains are observed at the interfaces and are predominantly compressive. Atomic models of Pt NPs with experimentally measured strain distributions are used for firstprinciples
kinetic Monte Carlo simulations of the CO oxidation reaction. The presence of only a fraction of strained surface atoms is found to affect the turnover frequency. These results
provide a quantitative understanding of the relationship between strain and catalytic function and demonstrate that strain engineering can potentially be used for catalyst design.

Transmission Electron Microscopy

Heterogeneous Catalysis

Supported Pt Nanoparticles

Density Functional Theory

Kinetic Monte Carlo

CO oxidation

Author

Torben Nilsson Pingel

Competence Centre for Catalysis (KCK)

Chalmers, Physics, Eva Olsson Group

Mikkel Jørgensen

Competence Centre for Catalysis (KCK)

Chalmers, Physics, Chemical Physics

Andrew Yankovich

Chalmers, Physics, Eva Olsson Group

Henrik Grönbeck

Chalmers, Physics, Chemical Physics

Competence Centre for Catalysis (KCK)

Eva Olsson

Chalmers, Physics, Eva Olsson Group

Competence Centre for Catalysis (KCK)

Nature Communications

2041-1723 (ISSN) 20411723 (eISSN)

Vol. 9 1 2722

Catalytic activity from first principles

Swedish Research Council (VR) (2016-05234), 2017-01-01 -- 2020-12-31.

Enabling Science and Technology through European Electron Microscopy (ESTEEM 2)

European Commission (EC) (EC/FP7/312483), 2012-10-01 -- 2016-09-30.

Areas of Advance

Nanoscience and Nanotechnology

Subject Categories

Physical Sciences

Theoretical Chemistry

Condensed Matter Physics

DOI

10.1038/s41467-018-05055-1

PubMed

30006550

More information

Latest update

4/5/2022 6