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Nuzzo, Ralph G. Menard, Laurent D., Jr 2015-09-28T21:57:27Z 2015-09-28T21:57:27Z 10000-01-01 2006 2006 This dissertation describes the use of x-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) and advanced electron microscopy methods to develop fundamental understandings of nanoparticle structure. Analysis of the x-ray absorption spectra provides structural information with 0.001 A precision. Quantitative high-angle annular dark field scanning transmission electron microscopy (HAADF-STEM) measurements characterize metal clusters and nanoparticles on the basis of the number of metal atoms they contain. Ligand-protected 13-atom gold clusters serve as a model system to illustrate the capabilities of a correlated use of these techniques. They exhibit a molecular density of electronic states and non-bulk icosahedral structure. These gold clusters are further used as precursor in the preparation of titania-supported gold oxidation catalysts via ligand removal using ozone or thermal treatments. The capability of the quantitative HAADF-STEM analysis for the determination of nanoparticle shape is demonstrated in these studies. X-ray absorption spectroscopy studies of sub-nanometer gamma-alumina-supported platinum nanoparticles revealed unprecedented metal-metal bond contraction with increasing temperature. Both the structural and electronic information obtained in the spectroscopic studies suggest that support-particle charge transfer is responsible for these dynamic effects. Supported bimetallic iridium-platinum nanoparticles were also prepared via reduction of a bimetallic cluster precursor. This preparation allowed excellent control of nanoparticle size and compositional distributions as the stoichiometry of the cluster precursor was retained. This was confirmed analytically using energy dispersive x-ray (EDX) spectroscopy of individual nanoparticles. XAS studies revealed that the bimetallic nanoparticles assumed a core-shell structure with an iridium-rich core and a platinum-rich shell. The implementation of a novel analysis method that accounted for the overlap of the iridium and platinum absorption edges allowed the determination of structural parameters with low uncertainties and a consequently well-characterized structural model. Made available in DSpace on 2015-09-28T21:57:27Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 2 license.txt: 4848 bytes, checksum: 96035ab3f5e1c23cc7138a224ce498bd (MD5) 3250290.pdf: 4714485 bytes, checksum: 4bb275b805b6328122a7aab853053b0c (MD5) Previous issue date: 2006 Embargo set by: Seth Robbins for item 89170 Lift date: Forever Reason: Restricted to the U of I community idenfinitely during batch ingest of legacy ETDs Restricted to the U of I community idenfinitely during batch ingest of legacy ETDs U of I Only 224 p. Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 2006. http://hdl.handle.net/2142/87889 (MiAaPQ)AAI3250290 eng Engineering, Materials Science Structure and Dynamics in Ligand-Protected and Supported Metal Nanoparticles text University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Dissertation Ph.D.