Particle ALD/MLD Surface Modification
There is an interest in functionalizing high surface area fine particles by controlling their surface
chemistry while maintaining bulk properties. A powerful method co-invented/developed in the lab is to
use atomic layer deposition (ALD) to deposit nearly perfect ultrathin nano-thick films at angstrom level
precision onto primary particles. The current focus in the lab includes developing a fundamental
understanding of the fluidized bed reactor process used to carry out the coating and improving the
process as well as expanding the applications. Challenges include operation under reduced pressure
and the ability to fluidize nano-particles. Alcohols are being investigated in lieu of water to investigate
the effect of related surface functional groups for both reaction and reducing agglomeration of the
particles during processing. Furthermore, studies include the use of microjets to aid in the fluidization
of nano-particle processing. Applications vary and include catalysis, micro-electronic devices,
pigments, sunscreen materials, nuclear materials, separations media, printed inks and the
development of porous thin films with angstrom control of pore diameter. Students in the lab have
pioneered Particle ALD innovation and have been recognized with cover articles in Nanotechnology,
best dissertation awards in the College of Engineering and Applied Science and the Best Ph.D. in
Particle Technology Award by the American Institute of Chemical Engineers. The Particle ALD research
group is considered one of the very best in the world.
Recent Publications
Muhich, C.L., J.Y. Westcott, T.C. Morris, A.W. Weimer, and C.B. Musgrave, “The Effect of N and B Doping
on Graphene and The Adsorption and Migration Behavior of Pt Atoms,” Journal of Physical Chemistry C,
117 (20), 10523-10535 (2013).
Gould, T.D., A.M. Lubers, B.T. Neltner, J.V. Carrier, A.W. Weimer, J.L. Falconer, and J.W. Medlin,
“Synthesis of Supported Ni Catalysts by Atomic Layer Deposition,” Journal of Catalysis, 303, 9-15 (2013).
Liang, X.H., B.W. Evanko, A. Izar, D.M. King, Y.-B. Jiang and A.W. Weimer, “Ultrathin Highly
Porous Alumina Films Prepared by Alucone ABC Molecular Layer Deposition (MLD),”
Microporous and Mesoporous Materials, 168, 178-182 (2013).
Arifin, D., V.J. Aston, X.H. Liang, A.H. McDaniel and A.W. Weimer, “CoFe2O4 on Porous Al2O3
Nanostructure for Solar Thermochemical CO2 Splitting,” Energy & Environmental Science 5, 94389443 (2012).
Lichty, P., X.H. Liang, C.L. Muhich, B. Evanko, C.Bingham and A.W. Weimer, “Atomic Layer
Deposited Thin Film Metal Oxides for Fuel Production in a Solar Cavity Reactor,” International
Journal of Hydrogen Energy, 37, 16888-16894 (2012).
Zhou, Y., C.L. Muhich, B.T. Neltner, A.W. Weimer and C.B. Musgrave, “Growth of Pt Particles on
the Anatase TiO2 (101) Surface,” Journal of Physical Chemistry C, 116, 12114-12123 (2012).
Muhich, C.L., Y. Zhou, A.M. Holder, A.W. Weimer, and C.M. Musgrave, “Effect of Surface
Deposited Pt on the Photoactivity of TiO2,” Journal of Physical Chemistry C, 116, 10138-10149
(2012).
Liang, X.H., L.B. Lyon, Y.-B. Jiang, and A.W. Weimer, “Scalable Synthesis of Palladium Catalysts
by Atomic layer Deposition,” Journal of Nanoparticle Research, 14, 943 (2012).
D.M. King, X.H. Liang and A.W. Weimer, “Functionalization of Fine Particles Using Atomic and
Molecular Layer Deposition,” Powder Technol., 221, 13-25 (2012).
Kilbury, O.J., K.S. Barrett, X. Fu, J. Yin, D.S. Dinair, C.J. Gump, A.W. Weimer and D.M. King,
”Atomic Layer Deposition of Solid Lubricating Coatings on Particles,” Powder Technol., 221, 26-35
(2012).
Liang, X.H., N.-H. Li, and A.W. Weimer, “Template-directed Synthesis of Porous Alumina Particles
with Precise Wall Thickness Control via Atomic Layer Deposition,” Microporous and Mesoporous
Materials, 149, 106-110 (2012).
Liang, X.H., Y.-B. Jiang and A.W. Weimer, “Nanocoating Zinc Alkoxide (Zincone) Hybrid Polymer
Films on Particles Using a Fluidized Bed Reactor,” J. Vac. Sci. Technol. A, 30(1), Jan/Feb (2012).
Scheffe, J.R., M.D. Allendorf, E.N. Coker, B.W. Jacobs, A.H. McDaniel and A.W. Weimer,
“Hydrogen Production via Chemical Looping Redox Cycles Using Atomic Layer Deposition-Synthesized
Iron Oxide and Cobalt Ferrites,” Chemistry of Materials,” 23 (8), 2030-2038 (2011).
Liang, X.H., Y. Zhou, J. Li, and A.W. Weimer, “Reaction Mechanism Studies for Platinum
Nanoparticle Grown by Atomic Layer Deposition,” Journal of Nanoparticle Research, 13, 3781-3788
(2011).
Liang, X.H., J. Li, M.Yu, C.H. McMurray, J.L. Falconer, and A.W. Weimer, “Stabilization of Supported
Metal Nanoparticles Using an Ultrathin Porous Shell,” ACS Catalysis, 1, 1162-1165 (2011).