In-situ lattice-resolution imaging of hydrogen absorption into nanoparticles

Gatan instrument used

The K3^® IS camera delivers simultaneous low-dose imaging via real-time electron counting, fast continuous data capture, and a large field of view (FOV). The model 636 double tilt liquid nitrogen cooling holder enables imaging of radiation-sensitive frozen samples and observation of low-temperature in-situ phase transitions at high resolution with precise temperature measurement.

Background

Palladium can efficiently split H₂ and reversibly absorb large amounts of hydrogen, but pure Pd has some undesirable properties which can be mitigated by alloying with other metals like Ag. While ensemble or bulk studies of Pd hydrogenation have been performed direct observations of the movement of phase fronts in individual nanoparticles were achieved, enabling insights into the thermodynamics, nucleation, and dynamics of hydrogenation for precisely known particle geometries.