Issue 13, 2009

Au nanoparticles on a templating TiOx/Pt(111) ultrathin polar film: a photoemission and photoelectron diffraction study

Abstract

We present an in-depth investigation of Au nanoparticles self-assembled on a zigzag-like TiOx/Pt(111) ultrathin polar film, whose structure is known in great detail. The peculiar pattern of defects (picoholes) templates a linear array of size-selected (ca. 1 nm) Au nanoparticles without disruption of the titania layer, as observed by scanning tunneling microscopy. Their structure and electronic properties have been investigated by several large-area spectroscopic tools, i.e. high-resolution core and valence level photoemission and angle-scanned and energy-scanned photoelectron diffraction. The comparison between experimental data and density functional theoretical calculations indicates that the Au atoms landing on the oxide film are rather mobile, and that the picoholes can act as effective trapping and nucleation centers for the growth of the Au nanoparticles. All the experimental results are in concord in indicating that the Au NPs are flat islands with a maximum thickness of 2–3 layers exposing the (111) surface.

Graphical abstract: Au nanoparticles on a templating TiOx/Pt(111) ultrathin polar film: a photoemission and photoelectron diffraction study

Article information

Article type
Paper
Submitted
06 Nov 2008
Accepted
08 Jan 2009
First published
09 Feb 2009

Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys., 2009,11, 2177-2185

Au nanoparticles on a templating TiOx/Pt(111) ultrathin polar film: a photoemission and photoelectron diffraction study

G. A. Rizzi, F. Sedona, L. Artiglia, S. Agnoli, G. Barcaro, A. Fortunelli, E. Cavaliere, L. Gavioli and G. Granozzi, Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys., 2009, 11, 2177 DOI: 10.1039/B819791A

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