General Trends in Core-Shell Preferences for Bimetallic Nanoparticles.

Surface segregation phenomena dictate core-shell preference of bimetallic nanoparticles and thus play a crucial role in the nanoparticle synthesis and applications. Although it is generally agreed that surface segregation depends on the constituent materials' physical properties, a comprehensive picture of the phenomena on the nanoscale is not yet complete. Here we use a combination of molecular dynamics (MD) and Monte Carlo (MC) simulations on 45 bimetallic combinations to determine the general trend on the core-shell preference and the effects of size and composition.

Continuous gas-phase synthesis of core-shell nanoparticles surface segregation.

Synthesis methods of highly functional core@shell nanoparticles with high throughput and high purity are in great demand for applications, including catalysis and optoelectronics. Traditionally chemical synthesis has been widely explored, but recently, gas-phase methods have attracted attention since such methods can provide a more flexible choice of materials and altogether avoid solvents. Here, we demonstrate that Cu@Ag core-shell nanoparticles with well-controlled size and compositional variance can be generated surface segregation using spark ablation with an additional heating step, which is a continuous gas-phase process.

The Role of Citric Acid in the Stabilization of Nanoparticles and Colloidal Particles in the Environment: Measurement of Surface Forces between Hafnium Oxide Surfaces in the Presence of Citric Acid.

The interactions between colloidal particles and nanoparticles determine solution stability and the structures formed when the particles are unstable to flocculation. Therefore, knowledge of the interparticle interactions is important for understanding the transport, dissolution, and fate of particles in the environment. The interactions between particles are governed by the surface properties of the particles, which are altered when species adsorb to the surface.

Measurement of long range attractive forces between hydrophobic surfaces produced by vapor phase adsorption of palmitic acid.

Extensive research into the surface forces between hydrophobic surfaces has produced experimentally measured interaction forces that vary widely in range and in magnitude. This variability is attributed to interference from surface nanobubbles and the nature of the hydrophobic surface. Whilst the effects of nanobubbles are now recognised and can be addressed, the precise nature of the surface remains a confounding factor in measurements between hydrophobic surfaces.

Roughness in Surface Force Measurements: Extension of DLVO Theory To Describe the Forces between Hafnia Surfaces.

The interaction between colloidal particles is commonly viewed through the lens of DLVO theory, whereby the interaction is described as the sum of the electrostatic and dispersion forces. For similar materials acting across a medium at pH values remote from the isoelectric point the theory typically involves an electrostatic repulsion that is overcome by dispersion forces at very small separations. However, the dominance of the dispersion forces at short separations is generally not seen in force measurements, with the exception of the interaction between mica surfaces.