Synthesis of Cubic Ni₃Sn Bimetallic Nanoparticles as a New Polymorph by Sequential Exsolution.

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Nanotechnology
• Catalysis

Background:

• Non-equilibrium material phases offer unique properties for applications.
• Developing synthetic routes for these phases is challenging due to thermodynamic stability.
• Bimetallic nanoparticles (NPs) are crucial for advanced material applications.

Purpose of the Study:

• To synthesize cubic Ni3Sn bimetallic NPs, a non-equilibrium polymorph.
• To investigate the catalytic pathways of the synthesized cubic Ni3Sn NPs.
• To explore novel synthetic routes for non-equilibrium bimetallic materials.

Main Methods:

• Sequential exsolution of Ni and Sn from a perovskite stannate lattice.
• Controlled annealing temperatures based on Ellingham diagram predictions.
• Characterization of NP structure and crystallographic space group (Fm3̄m).

Main Results:

• Successfully synthesized cubic Ni3Sn NPs via sequential exsolution.
• Achieved cubic Fm3̄m phase due to kinetic control from pre-formed Ni NPs.
• Demonstrated unique catalytic activity in CO* dissociation leading to CO-free methanol dissociation.

Conclusions:

• Established a novel synthetic route for non-equilibrium cubic Ni3Sn NPs.
• Highlighted the potential of kinetic control in materials synthesis.
• Identified distinct catalytic pathways for cubic Ni3Sn NPs in methanol dissociation.