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In this report, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy studies have been carried out on Pd, Ag, Cu, Pd-Ag, and Pd-Cu nanoparticles having identical sizes corresponding to mobility equivalent diameters of 60, 40, and 20 nm. The nanoparticles were prepared by the gas phase synthesis method. The effect of size on valence and core levels in metal and alloy nanoparticles has been studied by comparing the values to those with the 60 nm nanoparticles. The effect of alloying has been investigated by comparing the valence and core level binding energies of Pd-Cu and Pd-Ag alloy nanoparticles with the corresponding values for Pd, Ag, and Cu nanoparticles of identical sizes. These effects have been explained in terms of size induced lattice contractions, alloying induced charge transfer, and hybridization effects. The observation of alloying and size induced binding energy shifts in bimetallic nanoparticles is important from the point of view of hydrogen reactivity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, in-situ X-ray diffraction has been carried out to investigate the effect of temperature and pressure on hydrogen induced lattice parameter variation in size selected Pd-Ag and Pd-Cu alloy nanoparticles. The nanoparticles of three different mobility equivalent diameters (20, 40, and 60 nm) having a narrow size distribution were prepared by gas phase synthesis method. In the present range of temperature (350K to 250 K) and pressure (10-4 to 100 millibars), no α (H/Pd≤0.03) ↔ β (H/Pd≥0.54) phase transition is observed. At temperature higher than 300 °C or pressure lower than 25 millibars, there is a large difference in the rate at which lattice constant varies as a function of pressure and temperature. Further, the lattice variation with temperature and pressure is also observed to depend upon the nanoparticle size. At lower temperature or higher pressure, size of the nanoparticle seems to be relatively less important. These results are explained on the basis of the relative dominance of physical absorption and diffusion of H in Pd alloy nanoparticles at different temperature and pressure. In the present study, absence of a α ↔ β phase transition points towards the advantage of using Pd-alloy nanoparticles in applications requiring long term and repeated hydrogen cycling. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the present study, we report the growth of size selected Pd, Ag, and Pd-Ag alloy nanoparticles by an integrated method comprising of the gas phase synthesis, electrical mobility size selection, and in-flight sintering steps. Effect of temperature during in-flight sintering on nanoparticle size, crystal structure, and electronic properties has been studied. XRD studies show lattice expansion in Pd and Ag nanoparticles and lattice contraction in Pd-Ag alloy nanoparticles on increasing the sintering temperatures. In case of Pd and Ag nanoparticles, size induced changes in lattice constants are consistent with the changes in the binding energy positions with respect to bulk values. In case of Pd-Ag alloy nanoparticles, change in nanoparticle size and composition on sintering affect the lattice constant and binding energy positions. Large changes in Pd4d valance band centroid in Pd-Ag nanoparticles are due to size and alloying effects. The results of this study are important for understanding the correlation between electronic properties and Pd-H interaction in Pd alloy nanoparticles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]