Fabrication of stable Pd nanowire assisted by hydrogen in solution

TL;DR

This study demonstrates the electrochemical fabrication of stable palladium nanowires in solution, stabilized by hydrogen, with conductance features indicating atomic-level structural insights.

Contribution

It introduces a method to stabilize Pd nanowires using hydrogen during electrochemical fabrication, revealing atomic configurations influenced by hydrogen adsorption.

Findings

Conductance histogram features appear at hydrogen evolution potential.

Pd nanowires stretch approximately 0.4 nm before breaking.

Hydrogen stabilizes specific atomic configurations of Pd nanowires.

Abstract

We have mechanically fabricated a Pd nanowire in solution under electrochemical potential control. A clear feature appeared in the conductance histogram when the electrochemical potential of the Pd wire was kept at the hydrogen evolution potential. Conductance traces showed the Pd wire was stretched 0.4 nm in length just before breaking, suggesting that at least two Pd atoms might contribute to the formation of the Pd wire. The results indicate that a certain atomic configuration of the Pd nanowire is stabilized by hydrogen. We discuss the stabilization mechanism due to changes in bond strengths caused by hydrogen adsorption or incorporation.