Mono-Metallic Nanostructures

A synthetic alternative to this is the chemical reduction of metal salts in the presence of extremely hydrophilic surfactants have yielded isolable nanometal colloids having at least 100 mg of metal per litre of water [105], The wide range of surfactants conveniently used to prepare hydrosols with very good redispersibility properties include amphiphilic betaines A1-A4, cationic, anionic, nonionic and even environmentally benign sugar soaps. Table 3.1 presents the list of hydrophilic stabilizers used for the preparation of nanostructured colloidal metal particles, and Table 3.2 shows the wide variety of transition metal mono- and bi-metallic hydrosols formed by this method [105,120],... 

Firstly it can be used for obtaining layers with a thickness of several mono-layers to introduce and to distribute uniformly very low amounts of admixtures. This may be important for the surface of sorption and catalytic, polymeric, metal, composition and other materials. Secondly, the production of relatively thick layers, on the order of tens of nm. In this case a thickness of nanolayers is controlled with an accuracy of one monolayer. This can be important in the optimization of layer composition and thickness (for example when kernel pigments and fillers are produced). Thirdly the ML method can be used to influence the matrix surface and nanolayer phase transformation in core-shell systems. It can be used for example for intensification of chemical solid reactions, and in sintering of ceramic powders. Fourthly, the ML method can be used for the formation of multicomponent mono- and nanolayers to create surface nanostructures with uniformly varied thicknesses (for example optical applications), or with synergistic properties (for example flame retardants), or with a combination of various functions (polyfunctional coatings). Nanoelectronics can also utilize multicomponent mono- and nanolayers. 

Upon the addition of CO or H2 in the presence of appropriate stabilizers, the controlled chemical decomposition of zerovalent transition metal complexes yields isolable products in multigram amounts [49]. The growth of metallic Ru particles from Ru(COT) (COD) (COT = cyclooctatetraene, COD = cycloocta-1,5-diene) with low-pressure dihydrogen was first reported by Ciardelli et al. [49a]. This material was, however, not well characterized, and the colloidal aspect of the ill-defined material seems to have been neglected in this work. Bradley and Chaudret [49b-l] have demonstrated the use of low-valent transition metal olefin complexes as a very clean source for the preparation of nanostructured mono- and bimetallic colloids. 

The easy accessibility of mono-, di- and trifunctional monomers should make them excellent precursors for tailor-made, nanostructured compounds or polymers. The reactivity at the central silicon can be tuned by metal-metal exchange reactions as well. 

In this chapter, the authors review some developments in the application of Pd-based nanostructures for the electrocatalytic oxidation of alcohols in alkaline media. Special focus is given to the role of such nanostructures (mono-, hi-, or ternary metallic catalysts) and/or their supporting platforms in lowering the anodic overpotential (onset potential), enhancing the catal3dic current density, and improving the stability or lifetime of the catalysts. 

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