Direct Imaging of Atomic Structures of the Metal-Oxide Interfaces: Pt Atoms on TiO2 (110) Surface

Abstract

Scanning transmission electron microscopy is used to characterize atomic structures of heterointerface between Platinum nanoparticles and MgO (100) surface. Platinum single atoms and nanoclusters with different size on MgO (100) surface are clearly imaged, although it is difficult to distinguish platinum atoms bond to Mg or O atoms. It is also found that the shape of Platinum nanoclusters change during observation, indicating that Platinum may not strongly attach to MgO surface. We believe that characterization of the interface structure will be seminal in understanding the origin of catalytic activity of Platinum nanoparticles supported on MgO.