Kinetically driven interface mixing properties of Au nanorods coated by Rh and Pd

What is it about?

Using aberration-corrected scanning transmission electron microscopy, we show the existence of a randomly mixed alloy layer at the interface of Au nanorods with Rh coating. The two elements are immiscible in the bulk. In marked contrast in AuPd nanorods, we find atomically sharp segregation resulting in a quasi-epitaxial, strained interface between metals, which are miscible in the bulk. We try to rationalise these results using molecular dynamics simulations of vapour deposition on Au surfaces.

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Why is it important?

In this work we address the challenge of furthering our understanding of the driving forces responsible for the metal–metal interactions in industrially relevant bimetallic nanocatalysts, by taking a comparative approach to the atomic scale characterization of two core–shell nanorod systems (AuPd and AuRh). It highlights the importance of achieving a fundamental understanding of reaction kinetics in realizing the atomically controlled synthesis of bimetallic nanocatalysts.