The change in surface resistivity due to the formation of nickel nanoparticles on gold(111) was studied by measuring the resistance of a thin film of Au as a function of Ni coverage, θ. After annealing, Au(111) configures into the herringbone reconstruction and provides a template for the periodic nucleation and growth of Ni nanoparticles. The Ni islands grow radially until θ ~ 0.3 ML, after which, subsequent Ni atoms contribute almost exclusively to a second layer [1].

Surface resistivity arises primarily from the scattering of the substrate’s conduction electrons by foreign atoms or defects, and studies of the dependence of surface resistivity on coverage yield insights into growth dynamics, interadsorbate interactions, and interactions between the adsorbed atoms and conduction electrons. For randomly distributed non-interacting scatterers the resistivity change is linear in coverage. Since Ni atoms on Au(111) grow in tight ordered nanoclusters, a nonlinear dependence might be anticipated. Our results, however, show a linear dependence on coverage for Ni atoms in the first layer, as if they were independent point scatterers. At coverages above θ ~ 0.3 ML, there is no further change in resistivity, which we attribute to Ni atoms forming a second layer and making no significant contribution to the surface resistivity.

The samples were 150 nm thick epitaxial Au(111) films on mica prepared by sputtering and annealing in ultrahigh vacuum. The resistance of the film was measured as Ni was thermally evaporated on the surface. Ni coverage was determined using Auger electron spectroscopy (AES), corrected for the inelastic mean free path of the electrons.

The resistance and AES data were analyzed in terms of a growth model that allowed for variation in the coverage at which a second layer begins, the relative probabilities of first- and second-layer growth after that point, and the relative contributions of first- and second-layer Ni atoms to the surface resistivity. The results are consistent with the growth model observed with STM [1], and serve as an indirect probe of the growth kinetics of this interesting system, as well as determining for the first time the contributions of the Ni islands to the surface resistivity of the Au film.

1. Chambliss, D.D., R.J. Wilson, and S. Chiang, Ordered Nucleation of Ni and Au Islands on Au (111) Studied By Scanning Tunneling Microscopy. Journal of Vacuum Science & Technology B, 1991. 9(2): p. 933-937.

The current literature on annealing of fullerene molecules on tungsten surfaces indicates a complete dissociation of the fullerene cage and the formation of a carbide phase. However, our measurements with high resolution STM and STS illustrate a complex intermediate reaction sequence. Upon annealing of C₆₀ adsorbed on a tungsten thin film grown on MgO (001) in UHV, C₆₀ does not dissociate and the spherical C₆₀ shape is retained up to a temperature of at least 973 K. During the annealing, the band gap of the molecular layer decreases gradually from the wide bandgap of fullerene to a fully metallic electronic state. This transition occurs in a narrow temperature range between 600 K and 700 K. After this transition, the near-spherical particles are termed “nanospheres.” This progression was observed with a series of high resolution scanning tunneling spectra and detailed spectral mapping. The bandgap variation presents an approach to achieve the formation of densely packed nanoclusters (nanospheres) with variable bandgap, which are stable at elevated temperatures. Experimental results for sub-ML fullerene coverage on tungsten show that the fullerene molecules are mobile at room temperature, but they become stationary after annealing above 500 K. This immobilization of molecules indicates a strong interaction and likely a covalent bond between the molecule and substrate that is triggered by annealing.

The progression to metallic nanospheres is hypothesized to occur either by gradual substitution of W-atoms or by wetting the molecule with W-atoms and thus formation of W-C bonds in a solid state reaction. These models were tested using density functional theory (DFT) calculations. Two simulation strategies were used. In the first, C₆₀ carbon atoms were substituted by W in the molecule and the resulting electronic properties and bandgap were calculated. In the second approach, different adsorption geometries of a C₆₀ molecule on the tungsten (110) surface were considered. The variation of the band gap due to different C₆₀ orientations relative to the tungsten substrate and various types of hetero-fullerenes will be discussed.

Gold nanoparticles exhibit interesting optical properties because of the surface plasmon resonance. The shape and size of gold nanoparticles can markedly influence their optical properties. A spherical nanoparticle has a single palsmon peak, while rod-shaped nanoparticles have two plasmon peaks because of their shape anisotropy. Furthermore, slight deviations from the rod morphology can markedly influence the optical properties. For example, worm-shaped gold nanoparticles can have more than two plasmon peaks. Moreover, nanoworms can display very high local field enhancements upon plasmon excitation owing to their special shape and surface roughness.

We have devised a simple, seedless, high-yield protocol for the synthesis of gold nanoworms [1]. Nanoworms were grown simply by reducing HAuCl₄ with ascorbic acid in a high pH reaction medium in the presence of growth directional agents. In contrast to the seed-mediated growth of gold nanorods where a seed particle grows into a nanorod, nanoworms grew by oriental attachment of nanoparticles. By varying different reaction parameters we were able to control the length of NWs from a few nanometers to micrometers. Furthermore, the aspect ratio can also be tuned over a wide range.

Owing to their special morphology, gold nanoworms are much superior than the conventional nanorods for numerous applications. For instance, we have seen that they show markedly superior SERS and catalytic properties compared to their nanorod counterparts. This is due to their high-energy rough surface and twisted shape, which not only provides an ideal platform for catalytic activities but also generates local hot-spots upon plasmon excitation. Our study shows that both catalytic and SERS properties of gold nanoworms are strongly dependent on their length.

[1] W. Ahmed, C. Glass, and J.M. van Ruitenbeek, Nanoscale, 6, 13222, (2014)

The removal of radioactive substances released to the environment by a nuclear accident is an emergent issue. The water treatment based on the ion exchange process is the most effective decontamination technology, and inorganic ion exchangers, titanates, have been used for the capture of Sr ions owing to their high radiation stability and extreme ion selectivity. However, the reported adsorption capacity and ion exchange efficiency are not satisfied. We show the formation of sodium titanate nanowires with a few nanometers in diameter, having a mogul-shaped surface, forming hierarchically a three-dimensional network skeletal structure, and exhibiting remarkable Sr ion exchange properties [1]. They are produced by unique and simple non-thermal processes through the simultaneous selective leaching of Al and oxidation of Ti in a rapidly solidified Ti-Al alloy ribbon in NaOH solution. The experimental saturated adsorption capacity is tripledand the uptake rate is at least three hundredtimes faster than these of the previous reports. The results demonstrate that the newly created nanowires exhibit a potential application in the decontamination and disposal of nuclear waste.

[1] Y. Ishikawa, S. Tsukimoto, K. S. Nakayama, and N. Asao, Nano Lett. 15, 2980-2984 (2015).