PtCu nanoparticles were synthesized with different pH and support conditions using radiochemical process. The nanoparticle structures were characterized by transmission electron microscopy, inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry, X-ray absorption spectroscopy, and X-ray diffraction techniques. The nanoparticle structure was relevant to the pH of the precursor solutions. The lattice parameter of PtCu alloy increased in high pH samples, which indicates the critical effect of metal ion adsorption in precursor solution on nanoparticle structure.

Antiviral activity of metallic Ag nanoparticles immobilized on textile fabrics were investigated. The Ag nanoparticles synthesized by radiochemical process are firmly immobilized on the surface of support textile fabrics of cotton. Small Ag particles of about 2–4 nm were observed together with relatively large particles of more than 10 nm. The Ag nanoparticles showed antiviral activity against Influenza A and Feline Calicivirus. The antiviral activity significantly depended on the concentration of the Eagle’s minimal essential medium. It was implied that the surface passivation by inhibitory agent lead to the deactivation of metallic Ag nanoparticles.

Electrode catalysts composed of carbon supported PtRu nanoparticles (PtRu/C) synthesized by radiochemical process were annealed to control the PtRu substructure to enhance catalytic activity. The substructure of the PtRu nanoparticles synthesized by using high-energy electron beam under acidic condition was Pt-rich core/Ru-rich shell type, reflecting the redox potentials of each precursor ions. The material characterization techniques revealed that the reductive annealing led to the mixing of PtRu both in the core and on the surface. The sample with annealing temperature of 300°C for 5 hour showed the highest methanol oxidation current, 2.3 times higher than that obtained with before annealing.

Carbon supported Pt-SnO2 electrocatalysts with different Sn/Pt molar ratios were prepared by an electron beam irradiation method. Dissolved gas conditions in the vials irradiated with electron beam were controlled to air or Ar. The results of the material analyses showed that both Pt and SnO2 were immobilized onto carbon support in all catalysts. Bubbling Ar to the precursor solution led to steady change of metal contents in response to the precursor concentrations. The ethanol oxidation activity plotted against Sn/Pt ratio behaved differently with dissolved gas condition of the vial. This difference is discussed with supposed existing state of SnO2 in connection with the reduction process of Pt and Sn.

A nanoparticle catalyst of PtRuAu/C was synthesized by including an Au precursor in the radiolytic process for preparing a PtRu/C catalyst. Their methanol oxidation activity and electrochemical durability were measured by linear sweep voltammetry before and after potential cycling treatment. PtRuAu/C had a significantly higher durability than PtRu/C while maintaining a comparable high activity. The morphology and substructure of the nanoparticles were investigated by energy-dispersive x-ray spectroscopy, x-ray diffraction, and x-ray absorption fine structure spectroscopy. Metallic nanoparticles with diameters of about 2 nm were obtained; they probably had Pt-core/PtRu-shell structures. Transmission electron microscopy observations after potential cycling revealed that 2-nm-diameter nanoparticles containing Au did not coarsen, whereas nanoparticles without Au coarsened significantly to 3.7 nm. Some crystal defaults were observed in the coarsened particles, implying that the coarsening was caused by Ostwald ripening. The Au addition to catalyst particles consisting of PtRu inhibits coarsening and consequently improves the electrochemical durability.

Nanoparticle catalyst of PtRuAu/C for direct methanol fuel cell anodes was synthesized by a radiolytic process. Its methanol oxidation activity and the electrochemical durability were evaluated by using the linear sweep voltammetry and the cyclic voltammety. The Au addition significantly improved the durability in comparison with PtRu/C catalyst without losing its high activity. The atomic structure was characterized with techniques of the transmission electron microscopy, the X-ray diffraction, the X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy and the X-ray absorption fine structure. These results implied that the arrangement of Pt and Ru atoms in the PtRuAu/C has no significant difference from that without Au, possessing a structure of Pt rich core and PtRu alloy shell. We concluded that the improvement in durability could originate from these PtRu nanoparticles decorated with Au, but not from particles with high Au contents.

Catalysts in which Pt and Cu are immobilized on support particles of γ-Fe2O3 were synthesized by the radiolytic process and were evaluated for CO oxidation in a gas flow mixture (1% CO, 0.5% O2, 67.2% H2 and N2 balance) by measuring the CO concentration in the outlet gas. The Pt/Cu atomic ratios of the as-synthesized catalysts were determined to be 100:0, 90:10, 78:22, 50:50, 21:79, and 11:89, and the total metal loadings determined by chemical analyses were 10 wt%. Material characterization was performed using X-ray diffraction, X-ray absorption near edge structure, and transmission electron microscopy, and it was indicated that the composite catalysts consist of Pt-Cu bimetallic grains immobilized on the support at higher Pt-loading, while CuO with poor crystallinity is also observed at lower Pt-loading. The catalytic activity decreased as the Pt-loading was decreased to 50 at%, and also with increasing temperature. However, as the Pt-loading was further decreased, the activity contrariwise increased, and increased with increasing temperature up to 100 °C. The sample containing only 11 at% Pt exhibited the highest activity at 100 °C, which is higher than that of the commercial catalyst measured for comparison, and given at a lower temperature than that for the commercial catalyst. This enhanced activity, despite the low Pt-loading, could be attributed to oxygen supply via CuO from the O2-poor atmosphere to PtCu bimetallic grains trapping CO molecules. This new material is promising for use as a catalyst to purify hydrogen gas fed to a polymer electrolyte fuel cell.

Bimetallic nanoparticles of PtCu and PtNi supported on iron oxide particles were synthesized by a new method employing a 4.8-MeV electron beam as a trigger for reduction of their aqueous ions, and their CO oxidation catalysis was evaluated to find activities enhanced by the alloying. Sample materials of PtCu (PtNi) bimetallic grains supported on γ-Fe2O3 particles were synthesized by irradiating with the electron beam a glass vial containing precursors in an aqueous solution. The vial contains aqueous ions of platinum and copper (nickel) and γ-Fe2O3 particles of average size of 30 nm. The irradiation induces water radiolysis generating reducing species, such as hydrated electrons, and metallic nanograins are formed and stabilized on the support material. The irradiation was finished in several seconds without using any organic solvent and any surfactant. The average grain sizes observed with a TEM were around 3 nm in diameter. XRD patterns of PtCu samples exhibited the FCC structure with peak shifts obeying the Vegard’s law at low Cu concentrations. X-ray absorption spectra measured at edges of the constituent elements indicated that Pt is in the metallic state and coordinates certainly with Cu or Ni. Catalytic activity of CO oxidation of the material was evaluated by measuring residual CO contents in air in contact with the sample material by using a gas-chromatograph. The activities of the PtCu and PtNi samples were higher than that of monolithic Pt on γ-Fe2O3. The correlation between the atomic structure in these nanograins and their activities was investigated, which indicated that the random alloy enhances the activity. These bimetallic nanoparticles are expected as catalysts for preferential oxidation of CO in hydrogen gas fed to fuel cells.

Composite nanoparticles consisting of gold and iron-oxide were radiochemically synthesized in aqueous solution systems by using polyethylene glycols. The gold particles with average diameter of 3 nm were firmly immobilized on the surface of the support iron-oxide nanoparticles. The composite nanoparticles specifically adsorbed sulfur-containing amino acids by a Au-S bonding.

PtRu bimetallic nanoparticles supported on carbon nanoparticle (PtRu/C) catalysts were synthesized with radiation irradiation. The samples were structural analyzed by techniques of X-ray absorption fine structure (XAFS), transmission electron microscope (TEM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD). The results indicated that PtRu/C catalysts which prepared by an electron beam irradiation had more homogeneous atomic arrangement than that prepared by a gamma-ray irradiation. We found a clear correlation between the atomic structure and the catalytic activity of PtRu/C catalysts. These results supported the bi-functional mechanism.

Amounts of oligonucleotides adsorbed onto the Au/γ-Fe2O3 composite nanoparticles synthesized by gamma-ray irradiation and picked up by a magnet were evaluated using fluorescence technique. The adsorbing capacity of the oligonucleotides on our nanoparticles are larger than a commercial magnetic beads for a separation of biomolecules.

Hydrogen gas evolution from water dispersing nanoparticles induced by 60Co gamma-ray irradiation was studied. Nanoparticle of TiO2 with average size of 30 nm was examined. It was indicated that the hydrogen yields were affected significantly by pH of the dispersion. Difference in agglomeration could explain the difference in hydrogen yields. Reactions that enhance the hydrogen yields were discussed, and it was concluded that the radiolysis process is dominant in the total enhancement mechanism.

The three–point bending strength of TiC whiskers was measured in a scanning electron microscope. The whisker samples have ∼ 50µm length and 2∼4µm diameter and are commercially available as reinforcements for composite materials. The distribution of the bending strengths of the whiskers showed a double peak around 5.2GPa and 30.4GPa, respectively. The difference in these values is attributed to differences in the cleavage strength of two crystal planes depending on whisker growth direction.