A Case of Strong Metal-Support Interactions: Combining Advanced Microscopy and Model Systems to Elucidate the Atomic Structure of Interfaces

A symbiosis of advanced scanning probe and electron microscopy and a well-defined model system may provide a detailed picture of interfaces on nanostructured catalytic systems. This was demonstrated for Pt nanoparticles supported on iron oxide thin films which undergo encapsulation by supporting oxide as a result of strong metal-support interactions.