Multimetallic nanoparticles represent an important class of electrocatalysts which are critical for many energy and environmental applications including fuel cells, hydrogen production, and greenhouse gas elimination. The properties of these nanoparticles depend on their composition, size, shape, and structure. Therefore, developing new strategies which provide a high level of control over these parameters can bring new opportunities to the field. In this dissertation, scanning probe block copolymer lithography has been used in combination with other synthetic techniques to achieve the development of a library of novel multimetallic nanoparticles. Moreover, density functional theory calculations were used to understand the formation of these nanoparticles and to expedite the discovery of efficient multimetallic electrocatalysts. Chapter 1 provides an overview of the multimetallic nanoparticle synthesis and design strategies developed over the past decades. In Chapter 2, scanning probe block copolymer lithography was used in combination with a chemical vapor deposition process to synthesize novel multi-metal capped semiconductor nanowires. Chapter 3 introduces a new high-index facet nanoparticle shape regulation strategy through alloying/dealloying. This is further investigated in Chapter 4, which discusses the composition, size, and phase structure engineering of multimetallic high-index facet nanoparticles. Next, in Chapter 5, scanning probe block copolymer lithography was used in a two-step sequential manner to synthesize nanoparticles with complex, kinetically-trapped structures. In Chapter 6, the synthesized multimetallic nanoparticles were tested and studied as electrocatalysts for typical fuel cell reactions and the hydrogen evolution reaction. Finally, Chapter 7 concludes this thesis with a summary and outlook of the scientific and commercial implications of this work.

Creator

• Huang, Liliang

DOI

• https://doi.org/10.21985/n2-7p3j-y415

Subject

• Nanotechnology
• Nanoscience
• Materials Science

Language

• en

Alternate Identifier

• etdadmin_upload_754834
• http://dissertations.umi.com/northwestern:15185

Keyword

• Electrocatalyst
• Catalysis
• Nanoparticle synthesis
• Multimetallic Nanoparticle

Date created

• 2020-01-01

Resource type

• Dissertation

Rights statement

• In Copyright