Volume 241, 2023

Direct observation by high resolution transmission electron microscopy of gold(iii) particle transformation during aging reduction reaction

Abstract

We use a gold nanoparticle synthesis as a model system to study the morphological and compositional changes in gold(III) precursor particles, while reduction is taking place during aging after mechanical activation. Scanning transmission electron microscopy coupled with a high-angle annular dark field detector revealed the nanoscale changes in particle morphology, while electron energy loss spectroscopy mapped the changes in the chemical landscape during the reduction process. Tracking a specific region of interest on the sample grid allowed for comparisons to be made of the same particles across a two day monitoring period. High-angle annular dark field images permitted the visualization of particle size reduction of the gold salt while electron energy loss spectroscopy captured the surprising mobility of the lighter chlorine and sodium ions in a solid matrix during the reduction process. This system offers unique insight into precursor particle reactivity in the solid phase, which is relevant for many mechanochemical and aging-based reactions.

Graphical abstract: Direct observation by high resolution transmission electron microscopy of gold(iii) particle transformation during aging reduction reaction

Associated articles

Article information

Article type
Paper
Submitted
06 jun. 2022
Accepted
26 jul. 2022
First published
30 ago. 2022

Faraday Discuss., 2023,241, 278-288

Direct observation by high resolution transmission electron microscopy of gold(III) particle transformation during aging reduction reaction

M. Ferguson, A. J. Richard, J. Valdez, B. G. Fiss, H. M. Titi, N. Provatas, T. Friščić and A. Moores, Faraday Discuss., 2023, 241, 278 DOI: 10.1039/D2FD00126H

To request permission to reproduce material from this article, please go to the Copyright Clearance Center request page.

If you are an author contributing to an RSC publication, you do not need to request permission provided correct acknowledgement is given.

If you are the author of this article, you do not need to request permission to reproduce figures and diagrams provided correct acknowledgement is given. If you want to reproduce the whole article in a third-party publication (excluding your thesis/dissertation for which permission is not required) please go to the Copyright Clearance Center request page.

Read more about how to correctly acknowledge RSC content.

Social activity

Spotlight

Advertisements