Manipulation and Characterization of Morphology and Composition in Mono- and Heterometallic Nanoparticles
type: CreativeWork
description: This thesis investigates the use of simple synthetic manipulations to achieve control over morphologies and compositions within a range of metal nanoparticle (NP) systems. The materials of interest are relevant to ultra-high-density data storage devices, plasmonics, photothermal therapy and (electro)catalysis. This thesis is divided into two distinct sections. The first section reports the synthesis of core@shell NPs for applications in data storage or plasmonics. The synthetic development of FePt@Fe3O4 by the thermal decomposition of Fe(CO)5 upon a preformed FePt seed with enhanced Fe3O4 shell thickness control whilst avoiding the primary-nucleation of Fe3O4 impurities was achieved. The coating of non-magnetic Pt cores established that a magnetic seed was not necessary for shell growth. A synthetic strategy was then developed to coat Cu0 plasmonic NPs with an Fe3O4 shell. This prevented oxidation of the particle core for up to four months, as established using powder X-ray diffraction, advanced electron microscopy and micro-extinction spectroscopy. Measuring a plasmonic response from Cu NPs after four months of benchtop storage either dispersed in wet hexane or as a powder in air is unprecedented. The relationship between Cu size and morphology in addition to Fe3O4 coating success during temperature and stabiliser variation were studied. Trends between coating success and stabiliser mixtures were uncovered and an oleic acid (OA)-oleylamine (OAm) mixture for thin and smooth Fe3O4 shells was optimised. By manipulating Cu-precursor reduction kinetics, larger or faceted Cu cores were prepared and coated. Advances highlighted the versatility of this coating method, which indiscriminately provides a thin and uniform Fe3O4 shell to a range of core sizes and morphologies. The second section of this thesis focuses on branched NP morphologies with mono-, bi- and trimetallic compositions for applications in electrocatalytic oxygen reduction reaction (ORR). Monometallic Pt nan…
abstract: This thesis investigates the use of simple synthetic manipulations to achieve control over morphologies and compositions within a range of metal nanoparticle (NP) systems. The materials of interest are relevant to ultra-high-density data storage devices, plasmonics, photothermal therapy and (electro)catalysis. This thesis is divided into two distinct sections. The first section reports the synthesis of core@shell NPs for applications in data storage or plasmonics. The synthetic development of FePt@Fe3O4 by the thermal decomposition of Fe(CO)5 upon a preformed FePt seed with enhanced Fe3O4 shell thickness control whilst avoiding the primary-nucleation of Fe3O4 impurities was achieved. The coating of non-magnetic Pt cores established that a magnetic seed was not necessary for shell growth. A synthetic strategy was then developed to coat Cu0 plasmonic NPs with an Fe3O4 shell. This prevented oxidation of the particle core for up to four months, as established using powder X-ray diffraction, advanced electron microscopy and micro-extinction spectroscopy. Measuring a plasmonic response from Cu NPs after four months of benchtop storage either dispersed in wet hexane or as a powder in air is unprecedented. The relationship between Cu size and morphology in addition to Fe3O4 coating success during temperature and stabiliser variation were studied. Trends between coating success and stabiliser mixtures were uncovered and an oleic acid (OA)-oleylamine (OAm) mixture for thin and smooth Fe3O4 shells was optimised. By manipulating Cu-precursor reduction kinetics, larger or faceted Cu cores were prepared and coated. Advances highlighted the versatility of this coating method, which indiscriminately provides a thin and uniform Fe3O4 shell to a range of core sizes and morphologies. The second section of this thesis focuses on branched NP morphologies with mono-, bi- and trimetallic compositions for applications in electrocatalytic oxygen reduction reaction (ORR). Monometallic Pt nan…
author: Jenkinson, Kellie
language: eng
keywords: nanotechnology, Electron microscopy, nanoparticle synthesis, catalysis, plasmonics
license: https://apollo8-f-pro.lib.cam.ac.uk/bitstreams/d0c8b3f8-b8f7-4bcc-b75b-4b35be9e5054/download
license: https://www.rioxx.net/licenses/all-rights-reserved/
date published: 2020-02-28
date modified: 2026-07-22T22:24:10Z
provider: Cambridge University
publisher: Networked Digital Library of Theses and Dissertations
type: WebPage
source organization: University of Cambridge

PropertyValue
property ID: DOI
value: 10.17863/CAM.54026