Tin oxide subnanoparticles: a precisely-controlled synthesis, subnano-detection for their detailed characterisation and applications

摘要: Subnanometric metal particles exhibit anomalous chemical activity, suggesting innovative applications as next-generation materials. However, a precise synthesis and detailed characterisation of these subnano-materials remain major challenge. Here we summarise recent works on the size-controlled tin (Sn) oxide subnanoparticles (SNPs) using dendrimer template method, their characterisation. Size-controlled Sn SNPs (Sn12, Sn28 Sn60) have been synthesised they showed size-dependent compositional change containing not only stable Sn(IV) states but also metastable Sn(II) so to form subnano-scaled particle shapes. Detailed vibrational was achieved by employing subnano-sensitive Raman spectroscopy for spectroscopic Combined with density functional theory studies, inherent subnano-structures elucidated first time. Furthermore, activity upon CO oxidation rationally explained from simulated structure SNPs. A understanding physical nature facilitates rational design practical such catalysis, biosensors, electronics.