Copper Nanoparticles with High Index Facets on Basal and Vicinal ZnO Surfaces

We investigated the orientation and morphology of Cu nanoparticles grown under ultrahigh-vacuum conditions on ZnO(0001), ZnO(0001̅), ZnO(101̅4) single crystal surfaces by scanning tunneling microscopy, high-energy grazing incidence X-ray diffraction, low-energy electron microscopy. The (111) oriented NPs basal ZnO showed only small area fractions high indexed Cu(225) Cu(331) facets. show alignment [111] with [0001] direction, which is at an angle 24.8° to surface normal. Because this tilt, exhibit a shape larger fraction facets such as (335), (221), (113), (551̅). In addition, direct interaction subsequent Cu(111) planes underlying substrate results in unequal amounts ABCA ACBA stacked NPs. Small are found interact strongly vicinal surface, giving rise corrugation multiple step distance. density low-coordinated atoms potentially increases overall catalytic activity for methanol synthesis CO2 hydrogenation reactions.