Tuning Size And Coverage Of Pd Nanoparticles Using Atomic Layer Deposition

The morphology evolution of supported palladium nanoparticles (Pd NPs) during plasma-enhanced atomic layer deposition using palladium hexafluoroacetylacetonate (Pd(hfac)(2)) as precursor was investigated using in situ and ex situ X-ray fluorescence (XRF) and grazing incidence small angle X-ray scattering (GISAXS), as well as ex situ scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The initial areal density of Pd NPs increases through adding cycles of the three-step process using Pd(hfac)(2), H-2 plasma and trimethylaluminum (TMA) prior to the standard Pd(hfac)(2) + H-2 plasma process. The participation of an O-2 plasma exposure as additional co-reactant before or after the H-2 plasma step also plays a role in the nucleation density and particle coalescence, affecting also the shape of the deposited particles. Based on the gathered knowledge, a synthetic approach that enables precise control of the Pd nanoparticle dimensions and coverage is developed.