Catalytic Properties and Atomic Structure of Bimetallic Nanoparticles

Dear Colleagues,

Bimetallic nanoparticles (NPs), composed of two different metals, are of great interest from both a scientific and technological point of view. Their catalytic, electronic, and optical properties are often different from those of their pure constituent metals and they are influenced by different factors including not only particles size and shape, as in monometallic NPs, but also the atomic ratio of the metals and their electronic and chemical structure.

In the 21st century, there has been a tremendous rise in interest in bimetallic NPs, with well-defined structures and composition, as promising materials, both in standard and news catalytic processes. Great efforts have been devoted to the development of advanced synthetic approaches leading to bimetallic NPs with a high level of control of the size, composition, and morphology in order to understand and optimize the catalytic properties (e.g., activity, selectivity, and durability) of these materials. Their electronic and structural properties need to be studied at an atomic scale as they strongly influence the catalytic properties of surfaces. Synchrotron-based X-ray absorption fine structure spectroscopy (XAFS) has evolved as a well-established technique for understanding the local atomic structure in bimetallic NPs enabling also in situ and/or real-time changes studies. On the other hand, scanning and transmission electron microscopy techniques provide information about the structural, morphological, compositional, and textural properties of these materials. Furthermore, XAFS and electron microscopy techniques can be fruitfully combined with other advanced characterization techniques (e.g., X-ray emission spectroscopy (XES), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), diffuse reflectance infrared Fourier transform spectroscopy (DRIFTS), X-ray diffraction (XRD), UV-Vis spectroscopy) to properly correlate and understand the structure–function relationships in these materials.

The present Special Issue will present recent developments in the synthesis, characterization, and use of bimetallic nanoparticles in the field of catalysis. Studies focused on the structure–activity/selectivity relationship in bimetallic NPs, including advanced characterization tools (both ex situ and in situ), are welcome. The issue is open to both original research papers and reviews.

Dr. Claudio Evangelisti
Dr. Vladimiro Dal Santo
Dr. Antonella Balerna
Guest Editors

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• metal nanoparticles
• bimetallic nanoparticles
• bimetallic catalysts
• catalysis
• electron microscopy
• X-ray absorption spectroscopy
• structural characterization