Effects of hydriding and ageing of Pd nanoparticles to contact between nanoparticles and quartz and contacts among nanoparticles investigated by the pump-probe technique

Closely contacted Pd nanoparticles with average size of 8 nm are uniformly deposited on quartz. The ageing, hydriding, hydriding and then ageing of the nanoparticles are characterized by the transmission electron microscopy, optical extinction spectrum, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, which show little chemical and crystallographic change. The contact between the nanoparticles and quartz and contacts among the nanoparticles are investigated by the pump-probe technique. The contact between nanoparticles and quartz looses with the ageing, hydriding, hydriding and then ageing of the nanoparticles, and the contacts among nanoparticles loose with the ageing whereas compresses with the hydriding.