Nonequilibrium pulsed heating freezes sintering of supported metal nanocatalysts.

ABSTRACT: Supported metal nanoparticles always experience thermal-induced sintering that severely depresses their catalytic performance and durability. Recently, ultrafast heating technology has been widely adopted in synthesizing diverse metal nanoparticles or even single atoms on supporting materials, offering enhanced anti-sintering capabilities compared to conventional heating protocols. However, the mechanisms and kinetics underlying this anti-sintering behavior during ultrafast heating processes remain poorly understood. Here, using in situ scanning transmission electron microscopy and theoretical analysis, we microscopically reveal a metastable state for supported metal nanoparticles induced by ultrafast heating pulses, which significantly mitigates the thermal-induced sintering while effecti

SUBMITTER: Huang J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12920794 | biostudies-literature | 2026 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature