Low energy electron scattering from atoms: Search for nanocatalysts

Manipulating the structure and the dynamics of metallic nanoparticles, attractive due to their optical, electronic and magnetic properties, including applications in catalysis, requires a fundamental understanding of the dynamic processes at the atomic level. The fundamental mechanism of catalysis at the atomic scale has already been proposed and demonstrated in Au, Pd and Au-Pd catalysis of H$_{2}$O$_{2}$ through the scrutiny of low energy electron elastic total cross sections (TCSs) [1]. The use of mixed precious metal catalysts can produce even higher activities compared to Au alone [2]. Here the interplay between negative ion resonances and Ramsauer-Townsend minima that characterize low energy electron TCSs for Au is identified as the fundamental signature of nanoscale catalysts. Calculated electron elastic TCSs for Ag, Pt, Pd, Ru and Y atoms are presented as illustrations. The recent complex angular momentum methodology is used for the calculations [3]. It is concluded that these atoms are suitable candidates for nanocatalysts individually or in combinations. \\[4pt] [1] A.Z. Msezane \textit{et al}, J. Phys. B \textbf{43}, 201001 (2010); EurophysicsNews \textbf{6}, 11 (2010) \\[0pt] [2] D.T. Thompson, Nano Today\textbf{ 2}, 40 (2007) \\[0pt] [3] D. Sokolovski \textit{et al}, Phys. Rev. A \textbf{76}, 012705 (2007)