Electronic structure and catalytic properties of transition metal nanoparticles:: the effect of size reduction

Size reduction of metal particles results in the formation of nanoparticles having short-range order and metastable state. Modeling of the nanoparticles can be obtained by various approaches. The major arrangement is the use of a model Support on which metal nanoparticles can be created in a controlled way. Another approach is the use of amorphous alloy as precursor ill which the ensemble of active sites (normally small metal nuclei embedded into amorphous matrix) is created. The modeling will be illustrated through the paper using SiO2/Si(100) oil which several transition metals will be deposited by pulsed laser deposition. Ultraviolet photoelectron spectroscopic technique as well as transmission electron microscopic technique will be utilized in characterization of the samples. CO chemisorption and CO oxidation as test reaction will be applied to show the connection between catalytic behavior and electronic properties or morphology of nanoparticles.