Self-Assembled Metallic Nanowires on a Dielectric Support: Pd on Rutile TiO2(110)

Palladium nanoparticles supported on rutile TiO2(110)-1 x 1 have been studied using the complementary techniques of scanning tunneling microscopy and X-ray photoemission electron microscopy. Two distinct types of palladium nanoparticles are observed, namely long nanowires up to 1000 nm long, and smaller dotlike features with diameters ranging from 80-160 nm. X-ray photoemission electron microscopy reveals that the nanoparticles are composed of metallic palladium, separated by the bare TiO2(110) surface.