Inflating hollow nanocrystals through a repeated Kirkendall cavitation process
He Tianou1,2, Weicong Wang1, Xiaolong Yang1,3
1Frontier Institute of Science and Technology and State Key Laboratory of Multiphase Flow in Power Engineering, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, Shaanxi, 710049, China.
Nature Communications
|November 3, 2017
Summary
Researchers created hollow palladium nanocrystals using the Kirkendall effect and phosphorus. This method allows for controlled inflation of nanoshells, enhancing their catalytic properties for formic acid oxidation.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Nanotechnology
- Chemical Engineering
Background:
- The Kirkendall effect is utilized for creating hollow nanostructures.
- Differential diffusion rates drive nanoscale transformations.
Purpose of the Study:
- To demonstrate a nanoscale Kirkendall cavitation process for hollow palladium nanocrystal synthesis.
- To investigate the repeated inflation of these nanocrystals into nanoshells.
Main Methods:
- Transformation of solid palladium nanocrystals into hollow ones via phosphorus insertion and extraction.
- Utilizing an oxidation reaction for effective phosphorus removal.
- Repeating the Kirkendall cavitation process for controlled nanoshell growth.
Main Results:
- Successfully produced monometallic hollow palladium nanocrystals.
- Achieved gradual inflation of hollow nanocrystals into nanoshells with tunable thickness and diameter.
- Demonstrated enhanced catalytic activity and durability of palladium nanoshells for formic acid oxidation.
Conclusions:
- The Kirkendall cavitation process offers a novel route to synthesize tunable hollow metal nanostructures.
- Thin palladium nanoshells show significant potential in catalysis, particularly for formic acid oxidation.
