Gas phase generation and deposition of size-selected metal clusters

[摘要] This thesis presents modifications to and optimisations of a cluster beam source, one application being the generation of large area catalysis samples. A major modification to the cluster source also enabled coating of clusters in a new way. The impact of Pd\(_5\)\(_6\)\(_1\), Pd\(_5\)\(_5\)and Pd\(_4\) clusters (1, 1.5 and 1 keV) on a thin material film evaporated onto a solid argon matrix led to deposition of large, 5-40 nm diameter, irregularly shaped particles. Furthermore, Pd\(_9\)\(_2\)\(_3\) and Pd\(_2\)\(_0\)\(_0\)\(_0\) clusters, with both 0.5 and 1.5 keV impact energies, have been coated in-flight by impact on the thin film/solid matrix, as verified from the increase in diameters of the deposited particles and the detection of Pd signal by EELS.MoS\(_2\) nano pillar catalyst samples were etched using size-selected metal etch masks. Catalyst samples of ordered MoS\(_2\) nano pillars were fabricated using NSL and a novel way to apply nano spheres was developed. Different etch recipes were used to obtain nano pillars with different diameters and heights; these recipes were also applied to reference MoS\(_2\) samples without etch masks. Generally, the reference catalyst samples, with their roughened surfaces, showed higher HER activity than their corresponding ordered MoS2 nano pillar catalyst samples.

[发布机构] University:University of Birmingham;Department:School of Physics and Astronomy

[关键词] Q Science;QC Physics