Room-Temperature Deposition of δ-NiGa Thin Films and Nanoparticles via Magnetron Sputtering.

Magnetron sputtering is a versatile method for investigating model system catalysts thanks to its simplicity, reproducibility, and chemical-free synthesis process. It has recently emerged as a promising technique for synthesizing δ-NiGa thin films. Physically deposited thin films have significant potential to clarify certain aspects of catalysts by eliminating parameters such as particle size dependence, metal-support interactions, and the presence of surface ligands.

Magnetron Sputtering of Pure δ-NiGa Thin Films for CO Hydrogenation.

Previous studies have identified δ-NiGa as a promising catalyst for the hydrogenation of CO to methanol at atmospheric pressure. Given its recent discovery, the current understanding of this catalyst is very limited. Additionally, the presence of multiple thermodynamically stable crystal phases in the Ni/Ga system complicates the experiments and their interpretation.

An experimental perspective on nanoparticle electrochemistry.

While model studies with small nanoparticles offer a bridge between applied experiments and theoretical calculations, the intricacies of working with well-defined nanoparticles in electrochemistry pose challenges for experimental researchers. This perspective dives into nanoparticle electrochemistry, provides experimental insights to uncover their intrinsic catalytic activity and draws conclusions about the effects of altering their size, composition, or loading. Our goal is to help uncover unexpected contamination sources and establish a robust experimental methodology, which eliminates external parameters that can overshadow the intrinsic activity of the nanoparticles.