These new functionalities are related to the electron binding and charge distribution of the alloy which alters their chemical behavior, mostly defined by the electronic properties at the surface 9.
Unexpectedly, the Cu-Ag alloy also catalyzes CO oxidation 7 and also exhibits anti-bacterial activity 8. Another development of great interest is that Pd-Ru alloy nano-crystals provide for CO oxidization catalysis superior to that of Rh 6. It has been demonstrated that solid solutions of Rh and Ag mixed at the atomic level can store hydrogen much like Pd - a functionality non-existent in pure forms of Rh and Ag 5. This opens new prospectives in alloying and formation of glass states of metals and tailor their thermal and electrical conductivity by control of the structure at atomic and nanoscale levels.Ĭurrently, alloy nano-materials are being given significant attention due to emergence of their novel catalytic, energy storage and optical functionalities beyond those of pure metals. Recently, it was demonstrated that amorphous glassy state of mono-atomic metals can be created 4. Optical properties of dielectrics, semiconductors and metals are classified for the tailored absorbance or refractive index over ultra violet to infrared (UV-IR) spectral range and are used to design required optical properties of the layered films 3. Facile synthesis of novel materials are opening new frontiers in the key areas of applications, e.g., a recent advances of perovskite solar cells reaching 20% efficiency milestone has been reached just after several years of the basic research 1, 2.
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