T Cele
University of South Africa, South Africa
Title: PGM nanoparticles and hybrid nanocomposites by gamma radiolysis/EISA
Biography
Biography: T Cele
Abstract
The multi-functional Platinum Group Metals (PGMs) pure and hybrid nanostructures are based on a biomimicking approach. Marine organisms like diatoms and radiolaria provide material scientists with many examples microstructures are formed by biomineralization a templated self-assembly process in which pre-organized organic surfaces regulate the nucleation, growth, morphology and orientation of inorganic crystals. Recently, various synthetic pathways that mimic aspects of biomineralization have been explored to produce patterned ceramic materials, among which the so-called EISA and EISA templating processes. This research project focuses on the development of pure and hybrid advanced 1-, 2- and/or 3-dimensional PGMs nanocomposites for multi-functional technological applications by a versatile novel hybrid nanotechnology-nuclear process: Radiolysis and Evaporation Induced Self Assembly (EISA). Pt solution of different concentration was prepared from K2PtCl4. The effect of irradiation on Pt4+ solutions with different concentrations irradiated at a certain dose was shown. The big black particles that are fairly agglomerated were spotted when the concentration is above 5×10-3 M. The UV-Vis spectrum of Pt of different concentrations shows a strong absorption peak at the wavelength 261 nm after irradiation, which indicates the presence of platinum nanoparticles. Furthermore, XRD and HRTEM images also confirmed the presence of the nanoparticles produced by radiolysis.