Local Structure of Pd1 Single Sites on the Surface of PdIn Intermetallic Nanoparticles: A Combined DFT and CO-DRIFTS Study

Local structure of Pd1 single sites on the surface of Pd1In1 intermetallic nanoparticles supported on α-Al2O3 was investigated by the combination of CO-DRIFTS spectroscopy and DFT. CO-DRIFTS spectra of PdIn/Al2O3 catalyst exhibit only one asymmetric absorption band of linearly adsorbed CO comprising two peaks at 2065 and 2055 cm−1 attributable to CO molecules coordinated to Pd1 sites located at (110) and (111) facets of PdIn nanoparticles. The absence of bridged or hollow-bonded CO bands indicates that multipoint adsorption on PdIn nanoparticles is significantly hindered or impossible. DFT results show that on (110) facet multipoint CO adsorption is hindered due to large distance between neighboring Pd atoms (3.35 Å). On (111) facet multipoint CO adsorption on surface palladium atoms is impossible, since adjacent Pd atoms are located below the surface plane.

Exploiting the antiviral potential of intermetallic nanoparticles

Viral pandemic outbreaks cause a significant burden on global health as well as healthcare expenditure. The use of antiviral agents not only reduces the spread of viral pathogens but also diminishes the likelihood of them causing infection. The antiviral properties of novel copper-silver and copper-zinc intermetallic nanoparticles against Escherichia coli bacteriophage MS2 (RNA virus) and Escherichia coli bacteriophage T4 (DNA virus) are presented. The intermetallic nanoparticles were spherical in shape and were between 90 and 120 nm. Antiviral activity was assessed at concentrations ranging from 0.05 to 2.0 wt/v% for 3 and 24 h using DNA and RNA virus model organisms. Both types of nanoparticles demonstrated strong potency towards RNA viruses (> 89% viral reduction), whilst copper-silver nanoparticles were slightly more toxic towards DNA viruses when compared to copper-zinc nanoparticles. Both nanoparticles were then incorporated into polymeric fibres (carrier) to investigate their antiviral effectiveness when composited into polymeric matrices. Fibres containing copper-silver nanoparticles exhibited favourable antiviral properties, with a viral reduction of 75% after 3 h of exposure. The excellent antiviral properties of the intermetallic nanoparticles reported in this study against both types of viruses together with their unique material properties can make them significant alternatives to conventional antiviral therapies and decontamination agents.

An Investigation into the Bulk and Surface Phase Transformations of Bimetallic Pd-In/Al2O3 Catalyst during Reductive and Oxidative Treatments In Situ

A series of oxidative treatments of PdIn-supported intermetallic nanoparticles at different temperatures were performed. The bulk and surface structure of catalyst during phase transformation was investigated by bulk- and surface-sensitive techniques (in situ XAFS, DRIFTS of adsorbed CO). It was found that comparison of palladium and indium fractions in bulk and on the surface suggests the formation of a «core-shell» structure. According to obtained results, the core consists of In-depleted intermetallic compound or inhomogeneous bimetallic phase with the inner core of metallic Pd, when a mixture of indium oxide, metallic palladium and small part of PdIn is present on the surface.

Platinum and cobalt intermetallic nanoparticles confined within MIL-101(Cr) for enhanced selective hydrogenation of the carbonyl bond in α,β-unsaturated aldehydes: synergistic effects of electronically modified Pt sites and Lewis acid sites

PtCo/MIL-101(Cr) with high uniform dispersion Pt–Co IMNs synthesized by a polyol reduction method show higher activity for selective catalytic hydrogenation of α,β-unsaturated aldehydes due to the synergistic effect of PtCo and MIL-101(Cr) support.