Structural Control of Inorganic Nanoparticles for the Creation of Their Novel Functions

Nanometer-sized alloys composed of more than one element, namely nanoalloys, exhibit unique properties, which depend on their compositions and elemental distributions. In this paper, the author focuses on a simultaneous reduction of metal ions in a liquid phase to produce well mixed solid-solution nanoalloys. For the efficient production of ordered type nanoalloys where constituting elements are regularly arranged in a lattice, a thermal treatment of nanoalloys in a hydrogen atmosphere (TTH) is introduced. An applicability range of the TTH is quantitatively discussed based on a structural transformation rate determined by time-dependent XRD measurements for nanoalloys using a synchrotron diffraction technique. Finally, the author shows novel applications of prepared nanoalloys to catalytic reactions which contribute to reduction of CO 2 emission in chemical processes.