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Title: Reconciling structure prediction of alloyed, ultrathin nanowires with spectroscopy

Journal Article · · Chemical Science
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1039/D1SC00627D· OSTI ID:1780493
 [1]; ORCiD logo [2];  [1];  [3]; ORCiD logo [4]; ORCiD logo [1]
  1. Department of Chemistry, Stony Brook University, New York 11794-3400, USA
  2. Department of Materials Science and Chemical Engineering, Stony Brook University, New York 11794-2275, USA
  3. Center for Functional Nanomaterials, Brookhaven National Laboratory, New York 11973, USA
  4. Department of Materials Science and Chemical Engineering, Stony Brook University, New York 11794-2275, USA, Chemistry Division

A number of complementary, synergistic advances are reported herein. First, we describe the ‘first-time’ synthesis of ultrathin Ru2Co1 nanowires (NWs) possessing average diameters of 2.3 ± 0.5 nm using a modified surfactant-mediated protocol. Second, we utilize a combination of quantitative EDS, EDS mapping (along with accompanying line-scan profiles), and EXAFS spectroscopy results to probe the local atomic structure of not only novel Ru2Co1 NWs but also ‘control’ samples of analogous ultrathin Ru1Pt1, Au1Ag1, Pd1Pt1, and Pd1Pt9 NWs. We demonstrate that ultrathin NWs possess an atomic-level geometry that is fundamentally dependent upon their intrinsic chemical composition. In the case of the PdPt NW series, EDS mapping data are consistent with the formation of a homogeneous alloy, a finding further corroborated by EXAFS analysis. By contrast, EXAFS analysis results for both Ru1Pt1 and Ru2Co1 imply the generation of homophilic structures in which there is a strong tendency for the clustering of ‘like’ atoms; associated EDS results for Ru1Pt1 convey the same conclusion, namely the production of a heterogeneous structure. Conversely, EDS mapping data for Ru2Co1 suggests a uniform distribution of both elements. In the singular case of Au1Ag1, EDS mapping results are suggestive of a homogeneous alloy, whereas EXAFS analysis pointed to Ag segregation at the surface and an Au-rich core, within the context of a core–shell structure. Overall, these cumulative outcomes indicate that only a combined consideration of both EDS and EXAFS results can provide for an accurate representation of the local atomic structure of ultrathin NW motifs.

Research Organization:
Brookhaven National Lab. (BNL), Upton, NY (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE Office of Science (SC), Basic Energy Sciences (BES); National Science Foundation (NSF)
Grant/Contract Number:
Joint Photon Sciences Institute (JPSI) graduate student fellowship; SC0012704; SC0012335; SC0012573; CHE-1807640
OSTI ID:
1780493
Alternate ID(s):
OSTI ID: 1785943
Report Number(s):
BNL-221570-2021-JAAM; CSHCBM
Journal Information:
Chemical Science, Journal Name: Chemical Science Vol. 12 Journal Issue: 20; ISSN 2041-6520
Publisher:
Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC)Copyright Statement
Country of Publication:
United Kingdom
Language:
English

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