Coherent X-ray Diffraction Imaging of a Twinned PtRh Catalyst Nanoparticle under Operando Conditions.

Bachmann, Lydia J; Lapkin, Dmitry; Schober, Jan-Christian; Dolling, Daniel Silvan; Kim, Young Yong; Assalauova, Dameli; Mukharamova, Nastasia; Dwivedi, Jagrati et al. · ACS Nano · 2025

basic_science · Level V

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Abstract

We performed operando Bragg coherent X-ray diffraction imaging under CO oxidation, as well as oxidizing conditions on a precharacterized single PtRh nanoparticle. We found that this (111) oriented particle with truncated octahedral shape is twinned with a Σ3 twin boundary parallel to the SrTiO<sub>3</sub> (001) support, at the height of the nanoparticle edges. We observed that the average strain at the twin boundary is higher under CO oxidation conditions compared to pure CO or O<sub>2</sub>. In addition, we observed that two new facets were forming during the oxidizing/reducing cycles. Furthermore, we observed mixed edge/screw dislocations at the twin boundary, but only where the {111} side facets meet. Inducing such dislocations changes the local strain and the atomic structure of the nanoparticles, which may create more active sites close to the nanoparticle edges.