Modeling the structure and composition of nanoparticles by extended X-Ray absorption fine-structure spectroscopy

Journal Article · Tue Jul 19 04:00:00 EDT 2011 · Annual Review of Analytical Chemistry

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev-anchem-061010-113906· OSTI ID:1065621

Frenkel, Anatoly I. ^[1]; Yevick, Aaron ^[1]; Cooper, Chana ^[1]; Vasic, Relja ^[1]

---

1. Yeshiva Univ., New York, NY (United States)

Many metal clusters in the 1-nm size range are catalytically active, and their enhanced reactivity is often attributed to their size, structure, morphology, and details of alloying. Synchrotron sources provide a wide range of opportunities for studying catalysis. Among them, extended X-ray absorption fine-structure (EXAFS) spectroscopy is the premier method for investigating structure and composition of nanocatalysts. In this review, we summarize common methods of EXAFS analysis for geometric and compositional characterization of nanoparticles. We discuss several aspects of the experiments and analyses that are critical for reliably modeling EXAFS data. The most important are sample homogeneity, the width of the size and compositional distribution functions, and accounting for multiple-scattering contributions to EXAFS. We focus on the contribution of structural disorder and structural/compositional heterogeneity to the accuracy of three-dimensional modeling.

• Research Organization: Energy Frontier Research Centers (EFRC); Catalysis Center for Energy Innovation (CCEI)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE SC Office of Basic Energy Sciences (SC-22)
• DOE Contract Number: SC0001004
• OSTI ID: 1065621
• Journal Information: Annual Review of Analytical Chemistry, Journal Name: Annual Review of Analytical Chemistry Journal Issue: 1 Vol. 4(1); ISSN 1936-1327
• Publisher: Annual Reviews
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE
37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY
77 NANOSCIENCE AND NANOTECHNOLOGY
bio-inspired
biofuels (including algae and biomass)
catalysis (heterogeneous)
catalysis (homogeneous)
hydrogen and fuel cells
materials and chemistry by design
synthesis (novel materials)
synthesis (scalable processing)
synthesis (self-assembly)