In Situ Gas-Heating Atomic-Scale STEM Analysis of Au-Pd Nanoparticles at 1 Bar

Innovative bimetallic nanoparticles are impactful materials for heterogenous catalysis, as the synergy between two metals can be beneficial to increase activity, selectivity, and stability [1, 2]. For instance, it has been shown that Au-Pd nanoparticles can improve the selectivity for the hydrogenation of alkynes compared to pure Pd particles [3, 4]. However, it has been shown that the catalytic properties of Au-Pd nanoparticles can be substantially changed upon oxidation or reduction pretreatment. This is due to the dynamic restructuring effects of the Au-Pd particles in a gaseous environment, as changes in composition, morphology, and valence state can modify its catalytic properties. Thus, a detailed characterization of Au-Pd in a reactive environment is needed to better understand the origin of their functionality and improve the rational design of Au-Pd systems.