Atom-Resolved Imaging of Dynamic Shape Changes in Supported Copper Nanocrystals

In situ transmission electron microscopy is used to obtain atom-resolved images of copper nanocrystals on different supports. These are catalysts for methanol synthesis and hydrocarbon conversion processes for fuel cells. The nanocrystals undergo dynamic reversible shape changes in response to chang...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Science (American Association for the Advancement of Science) 2002-03, Vol.295 (5562), p.2053-2055
Main Authors: Hansen, Poul L., Wagner, Jakob B., Helveg, Stig, Rostrup-Nielsen, Jens R., Clausen, Bjerne S., Topsøe, Henrik
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Applied sciences
Atoms & subatomic particles
Catalysis
Catalysts: preparations and properties
Chemistry
Climate
Clusters, nanoparticles, and nanocrystalline materials
Condensed matter: structure, mechanical and thermal properties
Copper
Cross-disciplinary physics: materials science
rheology
Crystallography
Crystals
Electron microscopy
Exact sciences and technology
Free energy
General and physical chemistry
Hydrogen
Imaging
Materials science
Metals. Metallurgy
Molecular electronics
Nanocrystals
Nanoparticles
Nanoscale materials and structures: fabrication and characterization
Nanoscale materials: clusters, nanoparticles, nanotubes, and nanocrystals
Nanotechnology
Physics
Quantum statistics
Silica
Structure of solids and liquids
crystallography
Theory of reactions, general kinetics. Catalysis. Nomenclature, chemical documentation, computer chemistry
Vibration mode
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Summary:In situ transmission electron microscopy is used to obtain atom-resolved images of copper nanocrystals on different supports. These are catalysts for methanol synthesis and hydrocarbon conversion processes for fuel cells. The nanocrystals undergo dynamic reversible shape changes in response to changes in the gaseous environment. For zinc oxide-supported samples, the changes are caused both by adsorbate-induced changes in surface energies and by changes in the interfacial energy. For copper nanocrystals supported on silica, the support has negligible influence on the structure. Nanoparticle dynamics must be included in the description of catalytic and other properties of nanomaterials. In situ microscopy offers possibilities for obtaining the relevant atomic-scale insight.
ISSN:0036-8075
1095-9203
DOI:10.1126/science.1069325