Reactivity in Aqueous Nanodroplets
Reactivity changes at the nanoscale. Our group is interested in studying reactivity in very small volumes, which allows us to observe the growth of a single nanoparticle, turnover of just a few enzymes, and the redox reactivity of just a few molecules. These types of experiments also elucidate reactivity at phase boundaries and allow for synthesis of high entropy alloy nanoparticles.
![NP Slice and Dice GIF despeckled[8906]](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/d5cf40_f530236dabfd40a4a9e01461b4eeed2e~mv2.gif) Our group has developed a new method to study the porosity within single nanoparticles. This method can also be used to explore how nanopores twist and wind within a nanoparticle, a physical property known as tortuosity. |  Our lab is spearheading the understanding of electrocatalysis of high entropy alloy nanoparticles. |  We have shown that one can control the stoichiometry of different metals in alloy nanoparticles using the nano-Drop Deposition method |
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 Not all nanoparticles have electrical contact with the solution or the surface of an electrode, as demonstrated in our recent publication in ACS Applied Nano Materials. |  The number of atoms in a cluster affects its size, and we are interested in how size and morphology affect electrocatalysis. The inset shows the reduction of protons on a platinum cluster adsorbed to a carbon fiber ultramicroelectrodes. The limiting current can be used to calculate the size of the clusters, which can be compared to a size estimate based on the face centered cubic lattice of platinum metal. |  This figure describes a method to observe electrocatalysis of small clusters of platinum on relatively inert ultramicroelectrodes. The amplification occurs when platinum forms, which is capable of reducing water over gold and carbon. |
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 This SEM micrograph shows the size of nanoelectrode after FIB milling. |
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