Here we show that just three electrochemical scans to modest positive potentials result in substantial growth of 1–2 nm Au dendrimer-encapsulated nanoparticles (DENs). Here we examined two sizes of Au DENs, denoted as G6-NH2(Au147) and G6-NH2(Au55), where G6-NH2 represents a sixth-generation, amine-terminated, poly(amidoamine) dendrimer and the subscripts, 147 and 55, represent the average number of atoms in each size of DENs. Ex situ transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and in situ X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) results indicate that G6-NH2(Au55) DENs grow to the same size as the G6-NH2(Au147) DENs following these scans. Importantly, this growth occurs prior to the onset of detectable faradaic Au oxidation or reduction current. The observed growth in the size of the DENs directly correlates to changes in the electrocatalytic ORR activity. The key point is that after just three positive scans the G6-NH2(Au147) and G6-NH2(Au55) DENs are essentially indistinguishable in terms of both physical and electrocatalytic properties.
Strasser, Juliette W., Hersbach, Thomas P., Liu, Jing, Lapp, Aliya S., Frenkel, Anatoly I., & Crooks, Richard M. (2021). Electrochemical Cleaning Stability and Oxygen Reduction Reaction Activity of 1-2 nm Dendrimer-Encapsulated Au Nanoparticles. ChemElectroChem, 8(13). https://doi.org/10.1002/celc.202100549
Strasser, Juliette W., Hersbach, Thomas P., Liu, Jing, et al., "Electrochemical Cleaning Stability and Oxygen Reduction Reaction Activity of 1-2 nm Dendrimer-Encapsulated Au Nanoparticles," ChemElectroChem 8, no. 13 (2021), https://doi.org/10.1002/celc.202100549
@article{osti_1813957,
author = {Strasser, Juliette W. and Hersbach, Thomas P. and Liu, Jing and Lapp, Aliya S. and Frenkel, Anatoly I. and Crooks, Richard M.},
title = {Electrochemical Cleaning Stability and Oxygen Reduction Reaction Activity of 1-2 nm Dendrimer-Encapsulated Au Nanoparticles},
annote = {Here we show that just three electrochemical scans to modest positive potentials result in substantial growth of 1–2 nm Au dendrimer-encapsulated nanoparticles (DENs). Here we examined two sizes of Au DENs, denoted as G6-NH2(Au147) and G6-NH2(Au55), where G6-NH2 represents a sixth-generation, amine-terminated, poly(amidoamine) dendrimer and the subscripts, 147 and 55, represent the average number of atoms in each size of DENs. Ex situ transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and in situ X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) results indicate that G6-NH2(Au55) DENs grow to the same size as the G6-NH2(Au147) DENs following these scans. Importantly, this growth occurs prior to the onset of detectable faradaic Au oxidation or reduction current. The observed growth in the size of the DENs directly correlates to changes in the electrocatalytic ORR activity. The key point is that after just three positive scans the G6-NH2(Au147) and G6-NH2(Au55) DENs are essentially indistinguishable in terms of both physical and electrocatalytic properties.},
doi = {10.1002/celc.202100549},
url = {https://www.osti.gov/biblio/1813957},
journal = {ChemElectroChem},
issn = {ISSN 2196-0216},
number = {13},
volume = {8},
place = {United States},
publisher = {ChemPubSoc Europe},
year = {2021},
month = {07}}
Brookhaven National Laboratory (BNL), Upton, NY (United States). National Synchrotron Light Source II (NSLS-II)
Sponsoring Organization:
National Science Foundation (NSF); Robert A. Welch Foundation; USDOE Office of Science (SC), Basic Energy Sciences (BES). Chemical Sciences, Geosciences & Biosciences Division; USDOE Office of Science (SC), Workforce Development for Teachers and Scientists (WDTS)