In situ photon-in photon-out spectroscopy measurements on ultra-small Cu3N nanoparticles

We propose to investigate the reaction kinetics, nucleation, and formation of ultrasmall Cu3N nanoparticles by one-pot solvothermal controlled synthesis using photon-in photon-out x-ray spectroscopy. The motivation of this work is to monitor the changes in the electronic structure during the reduction of Cu(II)methoxide to Cu(I) by benzylamine and consecutive transformation to Cu3N. The unique combination of both XES and XAS applied under realistic reaction condition will explain the nature and changes in the ligand/species around absorbed atom.