Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 7, 2026
High Resolution Physical Characterization of Single Metallic Nanoparticles
Published on: June 28, 2019
Intact and fragmented triosmium clusters on MgO: characterization by X-ray absorption spectroscopy and
Vinesh A Bhirud1, Hakim Iddir, Nigel D Browning
1Department of Chemical Engineering and Materials Science, University of California, Davis, California 95616, USA.
Abstract:
Oxidative fragmentation of the clusters Os(3)(CO)(12) adsorbed on MgO powder was investigated by X-ray absorption spectroscopy and scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM). Exposure of the clusters to air leads to their fragmentation, oxidation of the osmium, and formation of ensembles consisting of three Os atoms. X-ray absorption near-edge spectra demonstrate the oxidative nature of the fragmentation process. Extended X-ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS) spectra indicate an average Os-Os distance of 3.33 Angstrom and an Os-Os coordination number of 2, consistent with the formation of ensembles of three Os atoms on the support. STEM images confirm the presence of such trinuclear ensembles, and the diameters of the observed scattering centers (6.0 Angstrom) match that indicated by the EXAFS results.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
01:07Electron Microscope Tomography and Single-particle Reconstruction
Electron Tomography
Electron tomography can be performed either in TEM or STEM (scanning transmission...
03:02Colors and Magnetism
When atoms or molecules absorb light at the proper frequency, their electrons are excited to higher-energy orbitals. For many main group atoms and molecules, the absorbed photons are in the ultraviolet range of the electromagnetic spectrum, which cannot be detected by the human eye. For coordination compounds, the energy difference between the d orbitals often allows photons in the visible range to be absorbed and emitted, which is seen as colors by the human eye.