Discovery of face-centred cubic Os nanoparticles.

We succeeded in controlling the crystal structure of osmium (Os) nanoparticles (NPs). Although Os adopts only a hexagonal close-packed (hcp) structure in the bulk state, a face-centred cubic (fcc) Os was synthesized by a chemical reduction method using an Os acetylacetonate complex as a precursor.

Rational Synthesis for a Noble Metal Carbide.

Transition metal carbides have attractive physical and chemical properties that are much different from their parent metals. Particularly, noble metal carbides are expected to be promising materials for a variety of applications, particularly as efficient catalysts. However, noble metal carbides have rarely been obtained because carbide phases do not appear in noble metal-carbon phase diagrams and a reasonable synthesis method to make noble metal carbides has not yet been established.