Unraveling the atomic structure of Pt nanoparticles grown by atomic layer deposition

The controlled preparation of supported nanoparticles (NPs) by atomic layer deposition (ALD) requires a fundamental understanding and careful tuning of nucleation processes. The state-of-the-art insights into the morphological evolution of metal NP populations on oxides during ALD cover the NP size and coverage (#NPs/cm2), but currently lack information on the atomic 3D structures and surface structures of the NPs. Herein, GIPDF will be used to uncover the atomic structure of Pt NPs, from sub-nm clusters to crystalline facetted NPs, for different ALD chemistries. This approach will allow us to understand the structural response of the nuclei and NPs to the surface chemical reactions in ALD, which will be linked to information on the growth kinetics to elucidate how the NP structure and surface reactivity in ALD are intertwined.