Pt-based nanoparticles: Synthesis and imaging by high pressure-STM

HP-STM is an efficient method to study structural changes of the catalyst under different gas mixtures. The particles have to be homogeneously distributed over the region of analysis. Colloidal synthesis is a reliable way to produce monodisperse NP’s with narrow size distribution, but the disadvantages of this synthesis are:• the capping agent has to be removed without damaging the substrate by avoiding aggregation of the nanoparticles• the deposition process (dip coating or Langmuir-Blodgett deposition) induces unavoidable dirt on surfaceWe were able to image PtCo nanoparticles with good resolution.