Charge State of Metallic Nanoparticles on a Conducting Substrate

Abstract

The charge state of a disordered system of metallic nanoparticles on a conducting substrate is analyzed. The theoretical model that describes thermostimulated tunnel transitions of electrons between the particles and also the electron transitions between the particles and the substrate due to the difference in the work functions has been built. The model takes into account the interaction of the charges of the nearest particles and also the interaction of the particle charges with the image charges in the substrate. The Monte Carlo computer simulation for this model makes it possible to obtain the distribution pattern of the charge in structures with different nanoparticle density in a one-layer coating on the substrate at various values of the dielectric permittivity of the environment and various values of the difference of the work functions of particles and the substrate. The numerical results for structures with Ni and Pt nanoparticles on a carbon substrate, which are often used as catalysts of chemical processes, are presented as an example.