CO-induced smoluchowski ripening of Pt cluster arrays on the graphene/Ir(111) moiré

ACS Nano. 2013 Mar 26;7(3):2020-31. doi: 10.1021/nn400082w. Epub 2013 Feb 28.

Abstract

Regular Pt cluster arrays grown on the moiré template formed by graphene on Ir(111) were tested for their stability with respect to CO gas exposure. Cluster stability and adsorption-induced processes were analyzed as a function of cluster size, with in situ scanning tunneling microscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. Small clusters containing fewer than 10 atoms were unstable upon CO adsorption. They sintered through Smoluchowski ripening-cluster diffusion and coalescence-rather than the frequently reported Ostwald ripening mediated by metal-adsorbate complexes. Larger clusters remained immobile upon CO adsorption but became more three-dimensional. Careful analysis of the experimental data complemented by ab initio density functional theory calculations provides insight into the origin of the CO-induced Pt cluster ripening and shape transformations.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.