Powder diffraction beyond the Bragg law: study of palladium nanocrystals

An experimental method of measurement of the subtle changes of structure of metal nanocrystals occurring on chemisorption of oxygen, interaction with inert gas and hydrogen, etc., is proposed. The measured patterns and their evolution are interpreted via atomistic simulations. Described are quantitative observations of the changes in peak position, intensity and half width of the 111 diffraction peak of a palladium catalyst caused by modifying the gaseous environment. The results of the measurements are in line with an atomistic model proposed earlier and prove that the measured average lattice constant of palladium clusters evolves according to their surface relaxation. The evolution of the measured peak intensity suggests surface ordering effects and was used to propose a detailed structural model of nanocrystalline metal particles. The transition of palladium into β-Pd-H in hydrogen under normal conditions was used as a structure probe and provided evidence for the presence of icosahedral clusters in a highly dispersed catalyst. The icosahedral phase is not significantly modified under hydrogen atmosphere and does not transform into the β hydride.