Temperature-dependent structuring of Au–Pt bimetallic nanoclusters on a thin film of Al2O3/NiAl(100)

Au–Pt bimetallic nanoclusters on a thin film of Al2O3/NiAl(100) undergo significant structural evolution on variation of the temperature. Au and Pt deposited sequentially from the vapor onto thin-film Al2O3/NiAl(100) at 300 K form preferentially bimetallic nanoclusters (diameter ≦ 6.0 nm and height ≦ 0.8 nm) with both Au and Pt coexisting at the cluster surface, despite the order of metal deposition. These bimetallic clusters are structurally ordered, have a fcc phase and grow with their facets either (111) or (001) parallel to the θ-Al2O3(100) surface. Upon annealing the clusters to 400–500 K, the Au atoms inside the clusters migrate toward the surface, resulting in formation of a structure with a Pt core and an Au shell. Annealing the sample to 500–650 K reorients the bimetallic clusters—all clusters have their (001) facets parallel to the oxide surface—and induces oxidation of Pt. Such annealed bimetallic clusters become encapsulated with the aluminium–oxide materials and a few Au remain on the surface.