Avoiding Loss of Catalytic Activity of Pd Nanoparticles Partially Embedded in Nanoditches in SiC Nanowires

Nanoditches from selective etching of periodically twinned SiC nanowires were employed to hinder the migration and coalescence of Pd nanoparticles supported on the nanowires, and thus to improve their catalytic stability for total combustion of methane. The results show that the etched Pd/SiC catalyst can keep the methane conversion of almost 100% while the unetched one has an obvious decline in the catalytic activity from 100 to 82% after ten repeated reaction cycles. The excellent catalytic stability originates from the limitation of the nanoditches to the migration and growth of Pd nanoparticles

The interaction between a protein and a ligand molecule studied by linear and non-linear optical spectroscopies

peer reviewedWe use infrared reflection-adsorption (IRRAS) and sum-frequency generation (SFG) spectroscopies to study the interaction between a protein (avidin) and a ligand molecule (biocytin or its thiol derivative) adsorbed on metals (Au and Ag) and insulators (CaF2 in two separate spectral ranges 2800-3500 cm-1 and 1400-1800 cm-1, respectively. No specific interaction is detected by SFG when the measurements are carried out on metals although IRRAS measurements attest the presence of a protein ad-layer. This is explained by the disordered character of the adsorbed film of avidin which is therefore SFG inactive. When the experiments are performed on an insulating substrate, no change of the biocytin/CaF2 SFG spectrum is detected in the low spectral range (1400-1800 cm-1) after immersion in an avidin solution in contrast with what was clearly demonstrated in the 2800-3500 cm-1 spectral range. Finally, we report, for the first time, the observation by SFG of the CH2 scissor vibration mode at 1465 cm-1

Sum-frequency generation spectroscopy applied to model biosensors systems

Vibrational information recorded by infrared-visible sum frequency generation spectroscopy was used to study the adsorption of a derivated vitamin (biocytin) on different substrates and its subsequent reaction with a protein (avidin). No reaction is observed on metallic substrates. When the experiments are carried out with a CaF2 substrate in the total internal reflection configuration, significant changes of the CH and NH vibrations can be related to the specific bonding of avidin to biocytin

In situ surface imaging: High temperature environmental SEM study of the surface changes during heat treatment of an Al Si coated boron steel

International audienceAl-Si coated boron steels have been of interest for many years because of their superior mechanical properties and their excellent oxidation resistance. These high strength steels are particularly used in hot stamping processes during which the Al-Si coating undergoes multiple microstructural transformations. In this study, morphology and structure transformations are investigated using an original approach. Most of the time, the coating evolution is studied in cross section, by ex situ characterization of its different layers after heat treatment. In this work, the evolution of the surface is explored for the first time using in situ high-temperature Environmental Scanning Electron Microscopy (HT-ESEM). The austenitization step reproduced in the ESEM chamber allows a precise description of several surface changes occurring, depending on the temperature range. Among them, the main change in morphology is occurring between 650 and 800 °C and is linked to different reactions between aluminium and bi-and ternary Fe-Al-Si phases. The heating rate is also pointed out as a key parameter that affects the surface morphology. In fact, with low heating rates the surface is mostly composed of hexagonal and rectangular elements coming from t 5 (Fe 2 Al 8 Si) structuration, while needle-shaped FeAl 3 structures are found for higher heating rates. In addition, it is observed that the heating rate also affects the surface roughness depending on the surface morphology. Finally, the origin of the presence of micrometrics pores appearing between 800 and 900 °C at the coating surface is discussed. Our hypothesis supported by ex situ characterization is that they result from formation of a crystallized oxide layer, probably close to a-Al 2 O 3 structure

Charge transport through redox active [H 7 P 8 W 48 O 184 ] 33− polyoxometalates self-assembled onto gold surfaces and gold nanodots

Paper and supporting informationInternational audiencePolyoxometalates (POMs) are redox-active molecular oxides, which attract growing interest for their integration into nano-devices, such as high-density data storage non-volatile memories. In this work, we investigated the electrostatic deposition of the negatively charged [H7P8W48O184]33- POM onto positively charged 8-amino-1-octanethiol self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) preformed onto gold substrates or onto an array of gold nanodots. The ring-shaped [H7P8W48O184]33- POM was selected as an example of large POMs with high charge storage capacity. To avoid the formation of POM aggregates onto the substrates, which would introduce variability in the local electrical properties, special attention has to be paid to the preformed SAM seeding layer, which should itself be deprived of aggregates. Where necessary, rinsing steps were found to be crucial to eliminate these aggregates and to provide uniformly covered substrates for subsequent POM deposition and electrical characterizations. This especially holds for commercially available gold/glass substrates while these rinsing steps were not essential in the case of template stripped gold of very low roughness. Charge transport through the related molecular junctions and nanodot molecule junctions (NMJs) has been probed by conducting-AFM. We analyzed the current-voltage curves with different models: electron tunneling though the SAMs (Simmons model), transition voltage spectroscopy (TVS) method or molecular single energy level mediated transport (Landauer equation) and we discussed the energetics of the molecular junctions. We concluded to an energy level alignment of the alkyl spacer and POM lowest occupied molecular orbitals (LUMOs), probably due to dipolar effects