Kavli Affiliate: David A. Muller
| First 5 Authors: Zixiao Shi, Zixiao Shi, , ,
| Summary:
When hydrogen atoms occupy interstitial sites in metal lattices, they form
metal hydrides (MHx), whose structural and electronic properties can differ
significantly from the host metals. Owing to the small size of hydrogen atom
and its unique interactions with the host metal, MHx is of broad interest in
both fundamental science and technological applications. Determining where the
hydrogen is located within the MHx, and whether it orders on the partially
occupied interstitial sites is crucial for predicting and understanding the
resultant physical and electronic properties of the hydride. Directly imaging
hydrogen within a host material remains a major challenge due to its weak
interaction with X-rays and electrons in conventional imaging techniques. Here,
we employ electron ptychography, a scanning transmission electron microscopy
technique, to image the three-dimensional (3D) distribution of H atoms in
Palladium hydrides (PdHx) nanocubes, one of the most studied and industrially
relevant MHx materials. We observe an unexpected one-dimensional superlattice
ordering of hydrogen within the PdHx nanocubes and 3D hydrogen clustering in
localized regions within PdHx nanocubes, revealing spatial heterogeneity in
metal hydride nanoparticles previously inaccessible by other methods.
| Search Query: ArXiv Query: search_query=au:”David A. Muller”&id_list=&start=0&max_results=3