Research Associate

Project title: Charge transfer processes in small metal nanoparticles

Supervisors: Dr Tim Albrecht

  Small metal and core-shell nanoparticles (MNPs) - composed of a few hundreds of metal atoms - attract strong interest on account of their fascinating properties and potential applications in sensing, electronics, biomedicine, imaging and catalysis. Moreover, the number of possible applications increases further when multiple phases are combined within discrete nanosized objects. The magnetic or optical properties of these systems, for example, are often qualitatively different from those of the individual components. MNPs exhibit unique electronic and optical properties, such as molecule-like energetic structure, strong photoluminescence and high catalytic activity. Most applications of MNPs take place in ambient conditions and condensed media environments, involving charge transfer processes in some form. Surprisingly, relatively little is known about the fundamental physics of this process, particularly in condensed matter environments.

In this project, we investigate the fundamental nature of charge transport involving surface-immobilized single-digit nanometre-sized metallic particles in solution environments. In order to address these questions, we use single-crystal electrochemistry at the monolayer as well as electrochemical Scanning Tunnelling Microscopy (EC-STM) at the single-particle level. Also, we use theoretical models to establish the charge transport mechanism and link the relevant physical parameters to the properties of the MNPs.