"I Like to Move It, Move It": Dancing Atoms in Nanoparticles and Nanoalloys

Abstract: In this lecture, we will address some important features of metallic nanoparticles and nanoalloys. We will detail the concept of morphology and how morphology affects the chemophysical properties of metallic nanoobjects. This is the key concept that opens the idea of designing nanosystems for a target application. Nonetheless, metallic nanoparticles are quite mobile, and they like to change. Hence the importance of a fast structural characterisation. We will review how we could model the formation process of metallic nanoparticles and nanoalloys. We will explore how external factors, i.e. temperature, could make the nanoparticles "moving" and the most common mechanisms for solid-solid transitions at the nanoscale. We will introduce a simple model to see the effect of structural changes in catalysis. In this lecture, we will address some important features of metallic nanoparticles and nanoalloys. We will detail the concept of morphology and how morphology affects the chemophysical properties of metallic nanoobjects. This is the key concept that opens the idea of designing nanosystems for a target application. Nonetheless, metallic nanoparticles are quite mobile, and they like to change. Hence the importance of a fast structural characterisation. We will review how we could model the formation process of metallic nanoparticles and nanoalloys. We will explore how external factors, i.e. temperature, could make the nanoparticles "moving" and the most common mechanisms for solid-solid transitions at the nanoscale. We will introduce a simple model to see the effect of structural changes in catalysis.