|
|
New synthesis of Vanadium oxide cluster We present a new approach for the synthesis of neutral V2O5 nanoparticles. This is achieved by sublimation from bulk, in combination with a pickup by superfluid helium droplets. Time-of-Flight mass spectroscopy measurements clearly demonstrates the preservation of the bulk stoichiometric ratio of vanadium to oxygen in He-grown nanoparticles, indicating a tendency towards sublimation of two or more V2O5 complexes. This approach was used to synthesize nano structures in a size regime ≤20 nm. Characterization of lattice distances in transmission electron microscopy (TEM) studies were performed on these V2O5structures. This is complemented by UV-vis spectroscopy of the deposited clusters. Both measurements allow for a determination of the oxidation state of the clusters, which is preserved during the entire synthesis process from sublimation and agglomeration to deposition onto the substrate. As a proof of concept, Au was added to the droplets to synthesize Au/ V2O5clusters in order to test this new approach for metal/metal oxide cluster synthesis. |