Insight into growth of Au–Pt bimetallic nanoparticles: anin situXAS study

Abstract

Au–Pt bimetallic nanoparticles have been synthesized through a one-pot synthesis route from their respective chloride precursors using block copolymer as a stabilizer. Growth of the nanoparticles has been studied by simultaneousin situmeasurement of X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) and UV–Vis spectroscopy at the energy-dispersive EXAFS beamline (BL-08) at Indus-2 SRS at RRCAT, Indore, India.In situXAS spectra, comprising both X-ray near-edge structure (XANES) and extended X-ray absorption fine-structure (EXAFS) parts, have been measured simultaneously at the Au and PtL3-edges. While the XANES spectra of the precursors provide real-time information on the reduction process, the EXAFS spectra reveal the structure of the clusters formed in the intermediate stages of growth. This insight into the formation process throws light on how the difference in the reduction potential of the two precursors could be used to obtain the core–shell-type configuration of a bimetallic alloy in a one-pot synthesis method. The core–shell-type structure of the nanoparticles has also been confirmed byex situenergy-dispersive spectroscopy line-scan and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy measurements within situion etching on fully formed nanoparticles.